Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this new radical Bill.

This new sensible and progressive Bill should be supported by all Members of the House if we are serious about doing something practical about planning and development and tackling dodgy practices. There has been enough talk; we want action.

Before I go into the details of the Bill, I thank and commend my colleague, Deputy Catherine Murphy, for bringing the Bill before the House. Not only does she deal with legacy issues, she also tries to protect the citizen and sets out a clear path for planning and development in this country. That is another example of how Independent Deputies can make a significant contribution to economic development. Independent Deputies have new ideas and new solutions, they want accountability and transparency, and they believe in putting forward solutions to problems, such as has been done with this Bill. It is important we say this. When new ideas, such as this from my colleague, Deputy Catherine Murphy, and others on banking, disabilities or the Central Remedial Clinic come from the Independent benches, they are an important statement to say we have arrived and are part of modern political society. The Bill being discussed is another example of what can be done and, once again, I thank the Deputy for her work on this matter.

Let us remember bad planning and development in this debate. I remember, in particular, the residents of Priory Hall whom I thank for their bravery and support. I commend the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, for the final solution in that issue also. Those residents were victims of bad planning, a bad developer and mishandling, and they were let down by sections of the State. I thought it was a nice gesture when I read yesterday about Ms Stephanie Meehan being given some money from the sum that was found in the developer's house. It was an important gesture from the new residents of that house. Ms Meehan and her family appreciated this gesture, as did many of my constituents. The Bill will try to stop situations such as Priory Hall developing.

The Bill is about protecting citizens. There has been much bribery and corruption. Big developers and greedy politicians have been milking money, swapping money, and so forth. Most of them have got away with it. They have damaged the integrity of politics. It is important we say this because this is what the Bill is about. It is about accountability, transparency and, above all, fairness to the citizens of the State.

On the details of the Bill, it establishes a national planning compliance register, which is a positive development. It also establishes a national schedule of development contributions. It ensures greater consistency of the local development plans. It tightens controls on the extension of planning permission and brings in greater public scrutiny and right of appeal to extension decisions. It requires full inclusion of the Aarhus Convention in the planning code in this area. The key words are "public scrutiny", which is essential if we want sensible and clear planning. The Bill also removes some of the worst and most unnecessary obstacles for taking in charge of estates. It tightens the practice around the stipulation of the bonds as a planning condition.

The Bill is about good quality planning, accountability, transparency, common sense and protecting the rights of citizens.

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