Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In case people at home will think this has been in any way rushed, this Bill had 120 hours of debate on Committee Stage. It also went through pre-legislative scrutiny. When Deputy Peter Burke was the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, many meetings were held with various stakeholders. At some point, we need to get on and pass a law that is going to reform our planning laws. Only a few weeks ago, the Deputies were all shouting at me about the importance of the Housing Commission, which talked about the need to overhaul our planning system. This place needs to do its job and pass the law. There is a housing emergency and crisis.

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