Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I think the House can agree on a number of issues in this motion. Planning and development issues coming before local authority members is the root cause of most of the headaches for many years since housing and economic development took off. Striking the balance between public representation and good decision-making in planning is always a significant challenge. Even allowing for the most suitably crafted area development plans in the world, there is still pressure on the system and on the elected members to grant planning permission here, there and the other place-----

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