Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

For whatever reason, best known to the Minister, he has wrongfully selected and targeted local authorities.

Earlier, the Minister of State referred to planning decisions taken in other areas. He is not familiar with the fact that birds directives, habitats directives, special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas cover approximately 60% of County Galway. The local authorities in Galway have gone through them meticulously as the record will show. As a former member of Galway County Council for 20 years I cannot but state today that the authorities, management and planners and everybody associated with it are people of the highest calibre and made decisions under all the criteria which had to be adhered to, which has always been the case. The Minister made a spurious decision and selectively said a certain number of applications were submitted from Galway County Council and because of the volume and size of county they were refused. I would appreciate if the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, or the Minister, Deputy Gormley, who is responsible for this Bill, would come in and explain why that happened.

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