Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy referred to strategic housing developments, SHDs, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has abolished the SHD process. Yesterday I brought forward a report on ethics in public office, which will lead to a new Bill that will be brought to the Oireachtas to consolidate the ethics in public office regime. This regime dates back to 1995 and was updated in 2001 by the Standards in Public Office Act. We have work to do to make sure we implement the recommendations that have been made by various tribunals of inquiry, the Group of States Against Corruption, GRECO, and the Standards In Public Office Commission, SIPO, in its annual reports. It will be a matter for this Government and the Oireachtas to work on that. The Bill we approved yesterday will undergo full pre-legislative scrutiny. It is important to give that assurance, and I know the joint committee will do its work competently and professionally.

On the issue of appointments to An Bord Pleanála, it is important that, in the short term, while the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's programme of reform of An Bord Pleanála is implemented, the board can continue to function, that we have a board that can administer planning and make decisions. The Minister has to take this step to make sure the board can continue to function. As the Deputy well knows, he is also setting out a new process on the nomination of members of An Bord Pleanála, which will involve the input of various stakeholders. It will be a public and open competition and it will be transparent and accountable. In the short term he has to make sure that the board can function and deliver its statutory functions to us as a country.

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