Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know it is the 11th hour, but I think this is an affront to the residents and to the stakeholders in this process. The Minister stated that everybody has access to the courts. In theory, that is obviously the case. However, it is not the case in reality. An individual is not a big semi-State organisation and has to fund a challenge himself or herself. The legislation gives the big organisation fast-track access to the courts for which, as the Minister indicated, the taxpayer will end up paying. Meanwhile, the little person or the resident has no such authority or favourable access to the courts. He or she can do so, of course, but my argument to the Minister is that the DAA or another organisation can go to the courts in any event and they do not need us to include that in legislation. Why, therefore, are we doing what is proposed? The argument in this regard does not stack up. I do not think that having it in or having it out makes a fundamental difference. However, what is proposed is indicative of an unbalanced approach. That is regrettable, particularly in the context of legislation which is supposed to deliver a balanced approach.

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