Seanad debates

Thursday, 29 April 2004

10:30 am

Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

Clarification on how the House would deal with impeachment would be welcomed by all parties. Although we are only in the realm of speculation at this stage, such clarification would be useful to all parties.

I agree with Senator Finucane's comments on the planning issue, which has been dealt with recently by the media. There is a perception among people that only big, well-connected developers have real access to planners and the planning process, while the ordinary person in the street feels his or her case is not being heard. That is a matter of concern because it is inaccurate, but that perception is abroad and should be addressed. It is seriously undermining any sense that the planning process is independent and above reproach.

Implementation is very important in this area, particularly in light of the comments of the Ombudsman, but there is a resource issue involved here. Most local authorities do not have the resources to put in place an entire network of personnel to ensure planning conditions are enforced. This is a very labour intensive and time consuming area which needs more attention and resources. The Leader should ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to inform the House specifically of his plans to ensure local authorities can carry out their duty to ensure planning conditions are implemented and to ensure people have confidence in the planning process.

I ask the Leader to provide time for a debate on the failure of the Government to implement the recommendations of the task force report on child care. Some of those recommendations, such as the establishment of county child care committees and so on, have been put in place, although implementation has been laborious and tedious.

There is a range of recommendations in that report on the provision of child care, particularly for working parents and the resources needed to ensure standards are upheld and that everyone who needs access to child care gets it. That is still not the case. I ask the Leader to put this important matter on her list for a debate. Many thousands of children are in pre-school and other child care facilities every day of the week throughout the country and, as legislators, we need to pay attention to standards and how that area is regulated.

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