Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government
Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I will deal with those arguments in reverse. Experience shows that where exempted development regulations are brought before the House, they are expedited in a timely manner. Members of this committee both during this Oireachtas and the previous Oireachtas took seriously our responsibility regarding those regulations. When we were asked to deal with them in a timely manner, we did so, both in terms of scheduling and our constructive engagement with them, so I do not accept what the Minister of State said is the case.
With regard to scheduling, nobody is telling the Dáil when it should schedule the debate. This is simply stating that the debate should last for at least an hour, which is reasonable.
With respect to Part 9, we will discuss the substance of the matters the Minister of State has raised when we get to it and the related amendments. However, given the enormity of what is being proposed in determining whether people have access to justice, which is a fundamental right enshrined in Irish, European and international law and agreements, at the minimum, orders made under Part 9 absolutely should require a level of Oireachtas scrutiny. Perhaps even stronger scrutiny than I have outlined here is required but, at a minimum, we need what is in the amendment. On that basis, I will press amendments Nos. 40 and 41.