Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a really important part of the Bill, for reasons the public are well aware, regarding the speed of the judicial review process. It is our intention that we would have quicker decisions and swifter delivery of housing and infrastructure projects. In that regard, there is a requirement for reform of the process and the parameters of planning judicial reviews. That is central to this Bill. Extensive discussions have been held with the Office of the Attorney General on the legal advice on the preparation of these provisions. That analysis has taken a long time to prepare. It is embedded in this section. It is really important that we have sound advice and analysis in that regard. As the committee will understand, this legal advice is not published. However, we have enlisted many professional experts in the preparation of this section. It is a misrepresentation to say we have not. It has been an extensive process and a number of years in the making. We want to ensure that with any judicial reviews we have a quicker decision-making process and that we have an established procedure for them that is not prohibitive or expensive and maintains compliance with Ireland's commitments under the Aarhus Convention. That is really important. I look forward to debating the amendments tabled by the Opposition parties and understanding their reforming intention in this regard. From our side, we want to make the process more streamlined and more effective.