Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for coming in. First, with regard to the specifics in each county development plan, is there a suggestion there would be a uniform statement across every county development plan in regard to what is a fast food outlet? How realistic is it to try to uniformly apply, across the board, what defines a fast food outlet? Are there specific criteria? This follows on from the Chairman's line of questioning. When I was on the local authority, I was given guidelines in regard to planning but the way those guidelines were interpreted by the executive and the councillors often clashed. Will a specific directive be given in this regard to guide people? As was said, anomalies arise all the time as economic environments change. The witnesses said that a major outlet within a town might create footfall at certain times of day which others might benefit from, and vice versa. In rural Ireland, this could have an adverse effect and I do not want to throw the baby out with the bath water. It is a question of trying to find the right balance. I would be glad to hear the witnesses' comments.