Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

——and planners. As planners are professionals who hold a degree, they appear to be averse to interference in their domain. However, if we do not have that we will not get anywhere because it is planners who make decisions. I am delighted with the reference to courtesy in the guidelines. I am sure all planners are not the same. Some planners say to couples, "No, you cannot have it there". That is often their opening remark. The couple will have prepared a site map and I will have primed them on what they are to say. If I am available I go with them, and their manners are sometimes better on those occasions, but their opening gambit is always, "No, you cannot have planning permission on that site". A couple may have high hopes when going in to meet the planning officials but that is what they are told at the outset, without being greeted, asked if they can be helped, and without offers to suggest alternative sites or house designs. They leave the office devastated. That important point was put into the guidelines by the Minister and not a Department official. I have spoken to the managers of services——