Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I am opposing amendments Nos. 11, 12 and 13 because, collectively, these amendments remove the provisions in section 9(2), (3) and (4) which outline the mechanism open to a site owner to appeal to An Bord Pleanála the entry of his or her site on the register. It is important in a measure such as this that clear and fair appeals mechanisms are in place. In this case, the proposed amendment removes, in summary, the following provisions: the burden of proof on the owner to show that the site was not vacant; the power of the board to determine that a site is not vacant and direct that it be removed from the register; and that the entry of a site on the register will not take place until an appeal is determined. These are fundamental provisions of the appeals process against the entry of a site on the register. It elaborates on how the appeal mechanism will work in practice, and without them it would not function.