Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

The point I am making is that the Minister needs the power to intervene where a locally made decision is not in line with the best wishes of the people of this country. We cannot allow little cabals to make their own rules in their respective areas. This is why we have basic laws for human, civil and animal rights. Planning is no different. We must have a basic level of good planning and we cannot allow a mullah mentality to interfere just because a couple of people are in cahoots with a landowner or developer. This is why I believe it is essential that the Minister gets these powers.

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