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

The failure here was not a failure of the planning process. I recognise that improvements have to be made. That is why the planning Bill that is currently going through the Houses categorises things like data centres as part of our strategic infrastructure and allows them to go directly to An Bord Pleanála. We have seen from Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, who is the president of the High Court, that strategic infrastructure projects are under the new accelerated judicial review process. The judicial review process for planning applications will be improved in a second planning Bill that is to be introduced later this year. The Bill in question will streamline the timing around such applications and make sure someone who is making an objection has a significant interest in that infrastructure. It will ensure all the things that are a part of this process, including preliminary hearings, can be shortened and can happen more quickly. This is necessary to avoid unnecessary delays or interference in good plans that will deliver jobs and employment to all parts of our country.

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