Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I did not interrupt Deputy Fitzmaurice. I will discuss one-off rural housing in a minute because I notice, Ceann Comhairle, that this discussion on an amendment tabled by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan has turned into a discussion on one-off rural housing. The discussion on one-off rural housing is always just very shallow and below the surface when we talk about any planning matters in this country. I will come back to the amendment but I just need to correct some of the things that were said here if the Ceann Comhairle allows me the time to do that.

I think that the criticism of planning profession is unfair. Recently I was at the Irish Planning Institute conference in Wexford where we heard contributions from across the board from people who have an interest in planning, professional planners and people who contribute to the fine profession, of which planners are members, up and down this country.

I have heard planners being criticised in the Chambers unfairly. When people have a planning decision go against them they think that the planning system is corrupt, ridiculous or does not work. When they get a planning decision that goes their way suddenly the planning system is the best thing in the world and the planners are great. We need consistency. People have criticised here tonight and said that there is no consistency. In criticising the planners' decisions, we are saying that we do not want to have consistency in the planning system. We have to have planning consistency for people and developers who apply for planning permission, and for people who invest in developments in the planning system.

Recently we had a long debate and discussion on the Maritime Area Planning Bill. It is another planning matter and I hope that the Ceann Comhairle will allow me to explain why I mention the Bill. An amendment was tabled to that Bill, which was vague, uncertain and talked about interim measures. In my view the amendment would have brought an inconsistency and uncertainty to the system that would have resulted in contested decisions, quite rightly contested because the amendment did not accurately define what the Members sought. I learned a lesson that day that when one crafts legislation, in the same way that we craft development plans, it needs to be sure and precise because there is a huge amount of investment involved and people's homes depend on this planning legislation being correct.

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