Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is hardly a dictatorship. I would say to the Deputies that these provisions relate to the pre-draft stage of a development plan process. They are nothing whatsoever to do with other public consultations. Local planning and zoning issues are not dealt with at the pre-draft stage. It is a development plan provision and there are some Covid-related provisions that are absolutely needed. What would we do if an outbreak of Covid within a planning authority in Limerick, for example, meant that the structures of that planning authority or of An Bord Pleanála were compromised? That is what we are dealing with in these provisions. They do not preclude public consultations or face-to-face meetings so long as the necessary health measures are taken. I ask Deputies not to say that the Bill is trying to do things they probably wish it did but which it does not. That is the reality of the situation. I hope we will address some of these issues in more detail on Committee Stage.

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