Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I regret the Minister read his briefing note because he normally listens to arguments from the Opposition and does not read such notes. I do not disagree that the framework he has identified and set out is an improvement on the current framework. However, he has not answered my question. Perhaps my proposal to refer such plans to An Bord Pleanála is not ideal and I am happy to concede it if the Minister has a better proposal. Where will an independent planning expert be involved in this process? While the process is democratic in that the citizenry and, ultimately, the House will have an input, I have no planning expertise and, as a Member, I am not atypical. I cannot look at a development and say it is good or bad planning, that it fits into the national spatial strategy or that it is in a proper or a disastrous location. We need some planning input into a major infrastructural proposal of this scale. The notion that it is approved by this House, that it requires a statute or that local people have an input is all well and good but it does not answer the fundamental question, where is the planning expertise?

I disagree with the Tánaiste that An Bord Pleanála has no expertise in this matter because it clearly does. It ultimately determines all major developments going through the normal planning process. Under the current appeals process, very large developments are determined by it and under a recent statute, all compulsory purchases, for example, are determined by it. If the Tánaiste does not want An Bord Pleanála, fair enough. However, at what point will an independent assessment of planning, spatial planning and environmental implications from a planning point of view take place and by whom will it be done?

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