Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The spelling mistake was "to" instead of "too".

Of course one needs people to live in these areas. They are not sanctified habitats for rare bats and birds, although I approve of such habitats. I know from previous conversations with the Minister that he is aware, and it echoed throughout his speech, that this must be balanced. The snooty writers living in penthouse apartments or restored Georgian houses will immediately tell us that this is frightful debauchery by the Government and is wrong. People in huge urban areas will think this should not happen in Ireland.

Any Senator who has not tip-toed in awe around the chief planning officer when talking to him or her about a particular person should put his or her hand up. This is about real people in real situations and is addressing an issue which has long festered in Irish planning circles.

Too often people do not consider advocacy a worthy operation, but it is what makes peoples lives tick over. Not everyone can be adept at gaining entry to the offices and corridors of decision makers. In our own way each of us is an ombudsman for minor matters. I have always regarded myself as an ombudsman for issues where people feel the levers of power or approval are not open to them.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins, who used to lecture on politics at NUI, Galway, and for whom I have a high regard, sometimes mentions clientelism when speaking in the Dáil, but I do not use the word "clientelism". Advocacy is a worthy characteristic in anyone and smacks of altruism and proper representation, as a Senator would not seek to achieve something that was wrong on behalf of a person, but would seek to get a person his or her rights if possible.

The guidelines are not a panacea for all ills and their implementation will not mean that all applications for planning permission will be approved. One of our harder tasks will be to cool down expectations and already I have had a significant number of calls from people wondering if they can reapply for planning permission under the new guidelines. Some of those callers will never get planning permission, even if they were to go to church four times a day and appeal to the Minister ten times a day, because they are not worthy applications. However, the lives of many people will be brightened immeasurable and changed for the better as a result of what the Minister has done.