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

I agree our planning concerns have not exactly been where they should have been over many years. We need to make sure we have all the resources necessary to ensure we have the correct oversight. Another question has been raised again in relation to planning. We all know the planning difficulties we have across the board. Are we going to have sufficient resources not only in the maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, but also in An Bord Pleanála, to make sure there is not a hold up from the point of view of the State. We are all aware checks and balances are needed, but we also need to be able to deliver on big projects if we have any chance of delivering across the board. There are also wider questions to be answered. The Minister should feel free to correct me, but are we talking about the DMAPs and everything across the board being published by the end of the summer? Is that it? It is about making sure we have those pieces in place and that the ports are up the spec to be able to deliver. Beyond that, we need to ensure An Bord Pleanála is resourced and that we have the required grid infrastructure. We must be sufficiently imaginative, because we know we can change the energy map for Europe. We all know the advantages of that from a climate change and energy security point of view.

See this speech in context