Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

Last Sunday on behalf of Fine Gael I signed a proclamation agreeing to do everything to ensure there would be no racism in the run-up to any election, with the local elections in particular in mind. All other parties were represented and signed the proclamation also. With that in mind it is appropriate that we ensure the proposed referendum does not take place at the same time as the local elections. This issue needs to be considered by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution and everyone needs the opportunity to debate the matter. The referendum should be postponed to a later date and should not take place in June.

All Members take a keen interest in planning issues, particularly those of us who were councillors. We also take due care in dealing with county development plans, which many counties are dealing with at present. Today we read in the newspapers that in my area of Castleknock, which is part of Fingal, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for approximately 300 housing units adjacent to Farmleigh House. This flies in the face of our county development plan because the land was zoned for two houses to the acre and now permission has been granted for 300 units. That does away with local democracy and I want the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to explain to us why we should bother with county development plans if, with the sweep of a pen, An Bord Pleanála can make a decision that totally ignores the county development plan. It is an absolute disgrace.