Results 1-20 of 38 for segment:1714279 in 'Dáil debates'

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reasons he did not act in almost one third of the cases in which he had been urged by his Department's heritage officials to appeal planning cases to An Bord Pleanála, the reason he has decided to deal with this matter personally rather than leave such issues to officials who have knowledge and...

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Final decisions on planning applications are a matter for the relevant local planning authority or, in the case of planning appeals, An Bord Pleanála. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is a statutory consultee in the case of any proposed development which may have an impact on built or natural heritage. The Minister is accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas...

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for agreeing to take this question. Of the 28 planning applications which his officials recommended should be appealed to An Bord Pleanála, the Minister decided not to appeal nine. Did the Minister receive any communication from the developers concerned in respect of the nine applications or from any person acting on their behalf? Did he receive...

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is suggesting that I rejected——

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: I am only asking a question.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's assertion is that I rejected professional advice.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not asserting anything.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I did not. I took all——

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: I ask that the Minister answer my two questions.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I would answer, if the Deputy allowed me. I took advice from various sections. The perception the Deputy is conveying externally is that I sit in some office locked away on my own and receive a series of files.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister should answer my questions.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I want to make it clear that I do not do that. It is important to record the fact.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: If the Minister does not answer, we will draw conclusions.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is well aware, I sit down with senior management to discuss all of these issues right across the system. Members from all sides of the House constantly come to me about all sorts of heritage issues in their local areas. Some even try to raise planning issues with me in which instances I inform them immediately that I have no function in the planning system. People raise issues...

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: Did anyone raise the issues in question?

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: I do not have any notes in front of me. I will not stand here and say no one did. I will check the files and if someone did, I will confirm for the Deputy what the position was. I have no difficulty with that as I wish it to be clear that I looked at the implications and our vitally important heritage aims in each of the 28 cases, 19 of which were appealed. I considered how best we could...

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: The questions I asked the Minister were very specific. I will repeat the two to which he did not reply. The Minister said he will come back to me on the question of representations, which I appreciate. Did the Minister receive any communication from the developers involved in any of the nine cases?

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: No.

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: Was there communication from anyone acting on behalf of developers?

Planning Issues. (3 Feb 2004)

Martin Cullen: Not to my knowledge.