Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016. We will be debating another aspect of planning and development tomorrow but this Bill relates to the recommendations from the Mahon tribunal. In recommendation No. 9, Mahon recommends that there is a requirement to identify relevant political donations when making planning applications. This is a very urgent issue. We spent €150 million from the coffers of this State on the Mahon tribunal. All of the other amendments to this Bill facilitate developers but this one gives effect to the outcome of the Mahon tribunal, which led to very serious accusations against many politicians.

I note with interest and with very grave trepidation that we may see the return of Bertie Ahern. We need to shore up legislation quickly to ensure, before these benches are filled with Bertie Ahern, Ray Burke and possibly even P. Flynn-----

See this speech in context