Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 66:

In page 23, line 15, to delete “thereof.” and substitute the following:

“ “thereof;

(d) an interested party may directly refer the application in subsection (1)(a) to the competent authority in cases where the planning authority decides no such referral is required. The competent authority will review the matter immediately and uphold or overturn the decision of the planning authority. When the decision is overturned, subsection (2) will apply.”.

I might be confusing myself, given that the amendment may not be necessary. It emerged following changes made on Committee Stage. It covers a leftover aspect. My intention is to ensure the planning authority would have to refer an application to the competent authority. There was a loophole in the earlier draft of the Bill, whereby the planning authority would have had a choice in deciding whether to send an application to the competent authority. I am trying to ensure that loophole has been closed. I think it has been and, in hindsight, probably did not need to table the amendment, although the Minister might enlighten us in that regard.

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