Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

A new division is to be established in An Bord Pleanála because major projects were not allowed to get off the ground. Examples include the route of the M3 close to the Hill of Tara and the M50 at Carrickmines. Time and opportunities were lost because of opposition to those projects. The purpose of the Bill is to fast-track the process with a division in An Bord Pleanála to handle major infrastructural projects, which I welcome, as it will allow the quality of life to be improved. We all know of bottlenecks caused by a small number of people. I have no difficulty with people expressing their views and their democratic right to object.