Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I understand that. It is 12 weeks from Friday next to the local and European elections. This issue has been around for much longer than the last six or 12 months. I want to put forward a reasonable argument and debate in terms of my own experience of the planning system. I believe it smacks of political opportunism. I have always pursued the case for genuine applicants who have a housing need. The current system is hard on young couples in particular, in terms of how it is applied. When Cork Country Council began a recruitment drive for planners to deal with the backlog of applications, it had to go to career seminars in London and Paris. It had to go abroad and actively seek planners from other countries to come over here. That in itself has helped to deal logistically with the thousands of applications a local authority this size has had to deal with. I have always found the recourse to management to be good.

We must not forget that the local and European elections are 12 weeks away. The guidelines have no legislative footing. I would appreciate if they had and I could see a stronger role for them.