Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)

-----to cover up its disgraceful record in planning and development.

I welcome the fact the report proposes 12 concrete actions to address the problems documented in the planning process. I also welcome the decision by the Minister of State to back up the review with an independent review by an independent planning expert. It is important to note that according to the original terms announced by the then Minister, Mr. Gormley, in 2010 it was a review and not an inquiry but this seems to be mixed up this evening. According to his press release, the purpose of the review was not to examine particular planning decisions but to assess the process and the system that enabled such decisions to be made. This is exactly what has been done and the report contains a detailed examination of each council and proposes clear solutions.

Let us examine the proposals made by Fianna Fáil in the motion. No independent inquiry had been started prior to the general election so it could not have been terminated by the Government. No planning consultant had been appointed by the previous Government so how could the current Government stifle progression of this? The tender process was not completed.

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