Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The new Minister considered that the considerable cost of retaining consultants to conduct these inquiries required further examination. He instructed officials to conduct an internal review and to report to him on what further actions might be warranted. These further actions might include changes to legislation, new regulations or further guidance on a range of issues related to the operation of the planning system in the local authorities. However, the findings of the internal review were not to be prejudged and it was always the case that some further investigations, including independent inquiries as originally announced, might form part of these outcomes. This remains the position today. The review will be completed following the publication of the retail planning guidelines due before the end of April. The Minister has committed to issuing a public statement outlining in full the complaints at issue, the response and any appropriate actions to be pursued in regard to further policy development and guidance in line with the commitments in the programme for Government and the relevant recommendations in the report of the Mahon tribunal.

Deputy Martin should note that no planning inquiry is being suppressed. The reviews are being conducted in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. When that process is completed following the publication of the retail planning guidelines at the end of April a full public statement will be made. This will set out in full the complaints made, the action taken in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to review and examine those complaints and what further action might need to be taken arising from the review. Nothing is being suppressed. It is being looked at in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The full information will be published.

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