Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have all spoken about planning on previous occasions in the House. We in this State have had a colourful relationship with planning. On that basis, it is absolutely necessary that we have an impartial and trustworthy planning framework and infrastructure. I accept that files have been sent to the DPP and I accept that the Garda is investigating, which limits what can be said. However, given what has happened, it is absolutely necessary to deal with any element of impropriety in regard to An Bord Pleanála. I do not think anyone has any major issue with the review of the organisation in regard to board appointments, the decision-making process, compliance, the recruitment process, corporate governance oversight, operations and efficiency. These are all terms we agree with but we need to see action on them. There has been much discussion about the Attorney General's review of planning and we all may have different views on what the issues have been over the years. Most Members who spoke today, particularly on the Opposition side, referred to the difficulties and the absolute mistakes that were made in regard to SHDs. I will move on from that.

The Minister said in his speech that the Attorney General's review will be finished during the fourth quarter. In the document that was circulated to Members, however, the reference is to the end of December. I assume that is the correct date. We all know there have been huge issues with planning and huge issues for anybody who is looking at large and necessary infrastructure projects. We also know there has been an absolute failure to communicate and converse with communities, particularly at the beginning of any of these major projects, and that it should be possible to deal with a considerable number of such difficulties prior to their blowing up into enormous difficulties. However, we are not always good at doing that preventative piece of work.

We all accept the absolute need for An Bord Pleanála but there has been an abject failure to resource it over the years.

This is more of what we do. We may set up reasonable structures and within any set-up in this State, we even may have a sufficient number of positions at times to deliver on particular services, but then we do not have those positions filled and staffed. In some cases, such as with An Bord Pleanála, we definitely have not done the business regarding resourcing.

Earlier, Deputy O'Rourke spoke about the marine and climate unit in An Bord Pleanála and the major difficulties there. We all know the issue we are dealing with now concerning energy security and the absolute necessity of transitioning to renewables. We all know we can be a global superpower in offshore wind energy production, in particular, but we must ensure that we have planning processes that can deliver on this potential. I suppose this also means that we must deal with all those linked parts in respect of the framework we have in place and ensure they are working. Therefore, we will all be very happy to see what the outworkings of the Attorney General's review are and what legislative moves will be undertaken.

We must, however, have all those pieces in place to enable us to deliver on what is even more necessary now than it was before, in the sense of the world we now operate in, where we are being held to ransom due to the exorbitant and excessive price of gas and other energy sources. We understand the geopolitical situation that has caused some of this situation. Where there are supply chain issues, we also know that the problem is that there are people looking to profit at every link along that line. Therefore, we must ensure we are doing everything necessary at domestic, European and international levels. We must also ensure, though, that we have a trustworthy planning infrastructure on which people can rely on and one in which it is not seen that people, or some people, can get favours. Beyond that, such planning infrastructure must unquestionably be fit for purpose and must not hold up the necessary infrastructural projects that must happen. This is all before I mention anything regarding housing.

See this speech in context