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

I will speak through the Chair. I refer to a recent example which impacted on my own county when a vote by Westmeath County Council regarding the conditions for the building of a massive wind farm was over-ruled by the then Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan. She was able to do so under the critical infrastructure legislation which allows An Bord Pleanála and the Minister to over-rule planning objections and any decision by local authorities if the proposed project is deemed to be of vital economic or strategic importance. Given that legislation is in existence, it should have been amended to return power over vital planning issues to local councils, which was proposed by Sinn Féin in its wind farm Bill . I would be dubious about a proposal such as this which would further diminish the power of democratically elected local councillors. Such powers are the bedrock of any democracy and democratic system, which we should never forget. We have weak local government. The significant reform of local government introduced last year has some potential. I would like to see that reform expanded into other areas. Unfortunately, the Minister has removed significant powers from local authorities, as did the previous Government, which is regrettable.

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