John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I am saying to the Deputy that I have been criticised in the Oireachtas joint committee for interventions I have made in regard to planning matters in certain counties. I am criticised in the committee but then people say we need to take a stronger hand with the local authorities. I have to try to get the balance right. I have always said, in regard to those rezonings, that I only intervened as a matter of last resort. That is the way I try to operate. If anything, I am trying to give more powers to elected representatives and it is up to those elected representatives from Deputy Lynch's party, my party and Fine Gael, to come forward and hold the local authorities to account on these issues and ask management what they are doing in regard to this matter.

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