James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I welcome the decision to agree to the appointment of four staff in addition to the staff which were announced when Mr. O'Connor addressed the joint committee. The Minister said that sufficient numbers of staff are available, but Mr. O'Connor told the committee that approximately half of the staff who are employed by An Bord Pleanála on a consultancy basis come from outside the State. Have the staff in question been trained in the State? There are different laws and different forms of legislation in different jurisdictions. I would be concerned if I were to learn that the people in question had not been trained in the State. It is important that they be given the training and supervision they need in the State, so they can understand the reports and legislation which have been prepared here. They should know how to work within the laws of the State.

We sometimes hear that local authorities have recruited staff from outside the State who have different opinions and views. That can cause hardship for the citizens of our State. The local authorities, which have recruited people from overseas with the best of intentions, have encountered a great deal of bother as a result. Some cases have gone to court, only to be dismissed. The Minister probably knows of such instances.