Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not repeat what other Deputies have said. I will speak to the national planning framework and the decision not to bring it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Deputy Ó Broin made the point that backbenchers can go back to their local radio stations and newspapers and say the situation is all wrong and it is the fault of the big, bad people in An Bord Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator. When I was a member of Cork City Council, a number of Fianna Fáil councillors were calling for the abolition of An Bord Pleanála. They were blaming the board for everything it could be blamed for. The thing that always struck me was that Fianna Fáil was in power. Fianna Fáil councillors were giving out about the big, bad boys in Dublin who were representatives of Fianna Fáil.

What this amendment does is create accountability. If there is a vote in the Oireachtas and Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael backbenchers vote for it, let them stand up and do so. To be honest, it has been a brilliant trick of Fianna Fáil's. One must compliment the party because it always plays both sides of the game. On one side, its representatives are in power and making the rules and, on the other side, they are saying the rules are wrong.

Deputy Healy-Rae made a relevant point. I know of a couple from between White's Cross and upper Glanmire in Cork. One of their grandfathers lived there. He is dead now, God rest his soul. Next door was one of his sons and on the other side was another son. His grandchildren wanted to build a house but could not get planning permission. Since the Cork City Council boundary extended, Michael O'Flynn, the developer, has built hundreds of houses. That is great to see, but a family who has lived in this community for generations cannot build a house. Down the road, some 440-odd houses were being built. The family in question was born and reared in the area. People give out that this happens.

All we are saying is that the national planning framework should go to the Houses of the Oireachtas. That would make things transparent.

If a Minister wanted to drive this horse and carriage through, there is nothing stopping them. If we had the wrong Minister and the wrong person wanted to do it, they would have all the power. The problem is that all of the power is being concentrated on one particular Minister. I know the Minister makes the point that this is democracy, and he is part of the Government formed after the election, but some things need accountability. We should look at this again, not for the Minister but for other Ministers who come after him.

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