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

I do not really understand the point and maybe those who made it can explain it later in the evening.

Section 11(3) relates to the initial stage of the development plan review process. The stage is undertaken before a pre-draft or a draft plan has been prepared by the planning authority and can best be described as the stage when the initial relevant issues and topics are identified for further more detailed consideration in the subsequent plan preparation process. For this initial strategic issue stage, planning authorities expend substantial effort and resources preparing and publishing many written issues, documents, papers, reports, exhibition, information materials, videos, questionnaires. All Members should be aware of this if they have attended these meetings at a pre-draft stage, as I am sure some have.

I see Deputy Boyd Barrett nodding his head. I am certain that he has attended such meetings and will understand exactly what I am saying. He will also agree, I am sure, that those meetings are for the purpose of assisting the public in preparing their submissions on issues of concern, not necessarily for politicians, as Deputy Mattie McGrath said, to be chairing them. Politicians would not be chairing those meetings, nor should they be. Nor, indeed, I would hope, should politicians be endeavouring to take over any such meetings and maybe drive a local issue in order to garner support for themselves. I am certain that none of the Members who have contributed this evening would dream of doing something like that at any stage. I am certain Deputy Boyd Barrett would not do so.

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