Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to note that section 28(1) makes a permanent change to section 42. When it is commenced, that permanent change takes place. It actually places quite a significant burden on stakeholders in the industry because of what it requires, which is that extension of the duration would no longer apply where an environmental impact assessment or an AA was required in respect of the original planning permission. That is quite a substantial change if we think of large infrastructural projects and what that might mean if they were to require a first extension. Therefore, it is good practice to allow a period of time - in this case roughly one year - to allow them to adapt to meet that new reality because this will be a permanent change in the law. That is why the advice is to commence section 28(1) at the end of the year. That was always the intention when this was first brought through at the end of last year.

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