Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

notes the continuing failure of the Government to legislate on the recommendations of the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, published in March 2012;

further notes that:

— despite a commitment to appoint an independent planning regulator, that their proposed scheme for a new planning Bill does not allow for the establishment of such an office;

— significant conflicts of interest continue to arise regarding controversial projects that require such independent assessment; and

— significant legacy issues regarding planning remain to be properly investigated;

notes the failure of this Government to pursue, as promised, the reviews into planning in local authorities in Dublin city, Cork city, Cork county, Carlow, Meath and Galway as had been set in train under the previous Government by the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government;

acknowledges the need to address public concerns over planning procedures, and the need to establish the independent oversight procedures recommended by the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments; and

calls for the establishment of an office of the planning regulator, with the appointment of a planning regulator to be made following an open public competition by an independent appointments board, and that the recommendations of the planning regulator be made binding on the now Minister.”

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