Results 3,461-3,480 of 15,009 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: It cannot be provided here and now but will be provided by way of a written note from officials. While I really appreciate all the work they have done already in providing notes, by the time that note comes, Committee Stage might be finished.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Perhaps I could have the floor for a moment longer. We may not get a chance to return to these issues on Report Stage. This is procedurally unfortunate.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Across all Ministers-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a couple of things to say. We are delighted to get as much information as we have and there is no issue about being drowned in paper. I am genuinely pleased at the volume of information we are getting and the Minister's officials have bent over backwards to provide it. My point is a different one. To be clear, the frequency with which members of the Opposition have reasonably asked...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is perfect.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have questions on amendment No. 605 if we have finished with amendment No. 604.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Amendment No. 605 is extraordinary. I have a number of questions. It is a very dramatic intervention to have a statutory prohibition in primary legislation to prevent a planning authority or the commission from refusing planning permission for a specific reason. I am not aware of such a provision existing elsewhere. I would be very interested to know if it does. I want the Minister to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I understand, but is the Minister proposing to introduce a corrected amendment before the end of Committee Stage or-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: If I finish the question, it might help the Minister to answer it. Is it his intention to bring back a corrected amendment before the end of Committee Stage or will it be a revised amendment on Report Stage? I ask him to expand on the rationale for this. It is not a minor amendment; it. It is a significant intervention into the Bill. I want to understand the reason for the before I make...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a couple of supplementary questions. I accept the Minister is looking to clarify the language. There is a mechanism by which an alternate wording of an amendment can be given to committee usually where it is a simple typographical correction etc. That is not what the Minister is talking about here. He is talking about something that could be a significant change and clarification...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is fine. On the substance of it, housing needs demand assessment is critical in the development plans setting their population targets and their core strategies. My understanding from previous meetings with departmental officials is that there is already headroom of somewhere between 20% and 25%. This is not an argument against what the Minister is proposing, I just want to think it...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have two final brief questions. First, is the Minister aware of the prevalence of planning applications being refused solely on the grounds that the HNDA population targets, in terms of granted planning permissions, have been met or exceeded? Is this something that-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Has it happened?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I have a final question. Has any industry body lobbied the Minister or any other member of the Government for this change to the legislation? Has this come about as a result of any direct lobbying for this amendment to the Act?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Under no circumstances.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: As we all have, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: We have all taken an open approach, including in this committee, and I have no issue with that. However, my question was specific. Has this specific change been requested by any specific industry lobby?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure. I understand the Minister.