Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Darragh O'Brien has referred on several occasions to An Bord Pleanála being mentioned in the legislation "at our insistence". An Bord Pleanála has always been the intended appeals body irrespective of which organisation is designated the competent authority. It is nonsense to try to take credit for that or to claim that An Bord Pleanála has been designated the appeals body "at our insistence". It is being done as a way of somehow negating all the other measures that Fianna Fáil allowed the Minister to include in the Bill by supporting him.

I now turn to this specific amendment. Speaking to residents about the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme, they referred to their engagement with the Dublin Airport Authority and Fingal County Council. The constant refrain is that the scheme is the scheme. I have been studying and reading about this and I fail to see how this amendment changes the scheme. I do not understand how it opens up the scheme with which people are not happy. I also do not know how it opens up the possibility of a new scheme. I refer to the proposals and the agreement between the Dublin Airport Authority and Fingal County Council that are required to be delivered by An Bord Pleanála.

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