Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome that amendment No. 85 specifies what form the consultation should take. There is a lot of box-ticking and I have spoken repeatedly about the Aarhus Convention and the right to be consulted, but it is a two-way process. Unless it is specified, it will not happen in that way. The very fact that an EIA would be required would indicate that there was a significant environmental issue at stake. I have never seen a planning application with an associated EIA which argued against the development. I have often questioned the independence of many EIAs which I have seen where it is possible to pick holes. That merits consideration on another day.

In respect of amendment No. 82, if an EIA is required for a housing development, who makes the decision if it includes over 100 houses? Will it be the local authority or An Bord Pleanála when the new rules come into play?

See this speech in context