Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

If it is possible to insert the proposed provision in the Bill, I will support the amendment. I await the Minister of State's comments in that regard. For too long, the process of discussions between prospective applicants and unelected officials behind closed doors has cast an unwanted veil of suspicion. Despite the heated debates and discussions we have, I acknowledge that the vast majority of local councillors from all parties try to represent their communities as best they can and seek to promote their view of what constitutes good planning. Guidelines are required to ensure the impact of a local planning decision does not extend to a regional or national level.

Having said that, if it is possible for a standard process to be drawn up, it would get rid of the suspicion of smoke-filled rooms, discussions behind the scenes and developers having the ear of the manager but the ordinary person not being able to come in. While I will be guided by the Minister of State, if it is possible to insert this into the legislation it would be a very good idea. If not, it is still a good idea to have some mechanism to allow a standard process to be drawn up.

See this speech in context