Ciarán Cannon (Progressive Democrats)

I support the many calls for a review of our planning legislation. It is hard to believe the processes which ended up in the 2000 Act began well over ten years ago at this stage. I wonder how relevant the Act is to the Ireland of 2007.

There are two contexts in which we should act. The first relates to An Bord Pleanála, and I wonder how effective and relevant a body can be which sits in judgment on planning applications on one day regarding a massive infrastructural incineration development in Dublin city, and on the next day on a one-off rural house in east Clare.

In a review of our planning policy carried out by my own party earlier this year, we suggested that An Bord Pleanála, as it is currently constituted, is not representative in any way of all sections of Irish society, and that anybody sitting in judgment on planning applications affecting people's lives over and over again should be far more representative of all sections of Ireland, and the rural areas in particular.

We suggested there should be three sub-bodies of An Bord Pleanála that would sit in judgment on planning applications in three non-Dublin constituencies and that these should deal solely with rural planning applications. It would help if the Minister discussed planning policy in general with us in a manner similar to the way the Minister for Health and Children discussed health during the week, giving a presentation and then answering questions.

I am also concerned about the recent EU judgment that scuppers the policy in many county development plans whereby if a rural area is under immense development pressure, provision can be made that only existing members of the local community can build in the area. I call for a debate on the issue as a whole.