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

I thank the Deputy for the question. It is a very serious issue but Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act is very strong on this area. We had very lax regulation around quarrying development for a number of years. We moved to make changes some years ago. New ministerial guidance was issued. New planning guidance was issued also. An opportunity was given to the industry to regularise its affairs and go through a consent process. The planning powers, and the enforcement powers, are in place. The local authorities have to follow up on those enforcement powers. That is the important issue here. We need to make sure local authorities are doing that.

See this speech in context