Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

We have discussed it. I reiterate my belief that local democracy is enshrined in law and that only the big picture, strategic issues, is addressed in national and regional policy. Local decisions will continue to be made by local people. The Bill strikes a better balance between national, regional and local interests. There is greater emphasis within the Bill on energy security, climate change and flood risk management. One needs only to recall the pictures on our television screens within the last year of flooding of developments built only a couple of years ago to realise we need a more robust planning system, one that takes into account the wider national strategies, that examines river basin management, climate change and the connection between transportation and zonings. I believe this to be democracy. Involving regional authorities in their oversight makes sense. The last thing we want is for the Minister to have to intervene in this area, which is the purpose of this Bill.

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