John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Under existing arrangements, it is open to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to have the authority appear before it and thus afford the Oireachtas an opportunity to question it. At the request of Deputy Hogan, the committee asked the authority to appear before it next week. There will be ample opportunity for the Deputy to question it at that point.

I have taken decisive action in appointing a new chairman of the authority who has recognised expertise in corporate governance matters. I believe Deputy Hogan agrees with me on this. I have asked the new chairman for a report on corporate governance in the authority. I will keep the need for future involvement by the Comptroller and Auditor General under review. As pointed out by the Deputy, this would require legislative change.

New procedures have been introduced by the new chairman. There is a new process for carrying out and recording meetings prior to applications being made for a section 25 certificate. There is also a requirement that, upon receipt, applications undergo initial assessment for completeness and potential non-compliance with the terms of planning schemes. Site notices must be displayed and registered applications notified to third parties by immediately logging on to the Dublin docklands website. A process for receiving and acknowledging valid third party submissions has been implemented and there is also a requirement that the planner, when preparing his or her report for the board, take account of the application and any valid third party submission. There is a series of measures in place.

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