Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Planning is about more than policies and legislation. Some would say it is a sacred trust placed on people to help support the way we live today while maintaining a clean, safe and healthy environment for this and future generations.

I will focus on planning for infrastructural development, particularly in the context of energy. Planning is part and parcel of developing energy policy in Ireland. In many cases, particularly where projects are designated as critical infrastructure, there is a risk these projects will be railroaded through the planning by way of the critical infrastructure path. This risk will be raised exponentially, for both citizens and Government agencies, if the dreaded TTIP-ISDS process is signed by US and EU bureaucrats.

Nowadays, we talk about "energy citizens", but I am not sure we fully understand what these words mean, because up to now the public and its concerns have not been listened to and the public's suggestions have not influenced decisions made in regard to planning. Therefore, the people are not "energy citizens". Public participation at every stage of a project would foster partnership rather than opposition, but we have seen several controversies over the past decade and there has been huge opposition to projects that were designed to enhance the State's capacity. These projects should have been good for our infrastructure, but they were mishandled. I will mention some of these later. Meaningful public consultation with host communities and Departments, investors and stakeholders is central to Sinn Féin's Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014, currently awaiting Committee Stage. This approach should be adopted for all pieces of major infrastructure development.

If we want a prime example of bad planning for critical infrastructure and of how it should not be done, we need look no further than the Corrib gas project and the effect this project and how it was handled had on the community of Rossport and on Ireland's reputation at home and abroad. This project is important because it is a dispute about the ownership and use of our natural resources and the benefits that arise for the people through the use of those resources. The Rossport issue also illustrates the threats posed to local communities by a powerful coalition of State and capital, thereby raising questions of scalar politics and power. The term "energy citizen" meant little to the people of Rossport. They remain extremely fearful for their health and safety as the pressure of unprocessed gas flows through pipelines passing their homes. What respect was shown for the people of Rossport? The Rossport five had to do jail in order to seek respect. Many people maintain that the Government was complicit in the failure to engage with the local community. Local people felt they were ignored and abandoned by the Government and that private business was doing all the running, with the State doing its bidding.

Public consultation is not the sole responsibility of private companies. Governments and local authorities must also play an active role. All of us, including the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, must learn from the mistakes of the Corrib project and ensure they are never repeated.

In regard to fracking, no EPA study or report can ever convince me fracking should be permitted anywhere on this island. It is ironic the State is even considering such dangerous technology in an area where planning permission is routinely refused for individual family homes because of the risk of water contamination - "septic tank - no; poison-fracked well maybe".

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