Mr. Eamonn Kelly:

I thank the Deputy. Without a doubt, these measures relate to very serious and significant projects in the context of potential damage to the environment. It is worth noting we are not amending significant provisions that are already in the substitute consent process; these are amendments to an existing regime that is very unusual. It is not like a normal planning application. When An Bord Pleanála addresses the applications, in advance of even making its decision it has the power to instruct the developer to cease activities being carried out on the site. Through the process the board can refuse permission, and it can also request remediation. Perhaps one of the key phrases to grasp is that this is a process to regularise unauthorised development and it allows for remediation. It is very important that it allows public input into what are, in many cases, illegal or unauthorised developments, as the Deputy has said. It is important to note that. Perhaps I was remiss in not referring to what is already in the system. The provisions already exist and we are not changing them. It is very important for them to be implemented.

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