Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I referred to that issue also. I have no problem in putting my cards on the table face up and it is a pot I hope to win.

There will be consistency between a local authority's development plan and the national spatial strategy with regard being had to regional planning guidelines and ministerial directives such as those issued to a number of councils. Senator Coffey has indicated one county council where the development plan had the support of the entire membership, which raised questions regarding ministerial directives. A Minister would have his or her view and locally elected members would have theirs and we do not always have to agree. At least when we discuss problems, a measure can be employed to solve them.

The Bill seeks to ensure development will take place at the right time, in the correct place and at a suitable pace to allow for the provision of necessary infrastructure. A major change to the planning process is that under the new Bill, two thirds of councillors, instead of a simple majority, will have to approve the county development plan. I will have to think about this. I am always conscious of the powers of locally elected members. The Minister might look at this provision again to see what can be done about the matter.

The Bill will also ensure that the powers councillors possess will be exercised in a responsible way in accordance with good planning practice. It will further ensure that public officials will discharge their responsibilities in an appropriate and lawful manner. Anything that can be done to eliminate the type of behaviour that has occurred in recent years must be welcomed.

The Bill will see an end to the type of bad planning that has led to a deterioration in some people's quality of life. I refer to those who live in estates which do not have facilities such as schools and from which there is a lack of access to proper public transport. I have been accused of being anti-developer. I wish to state, without apology, that I am opposed to bad developers. I am no friend of anyone who receives planning permission to proceed with a development in a particular area and who walks away without discharging his or her responsibilities. It is taxpayers' money which is used to complete estates long after developers have trousered the funds they were paid and bolted. That should not be the case.

In circumstances where appropriate infrastructure is not provided, planning permission should not be forthcoming. I have always held this view. When I was first elected to Westmeath County Council in 1979, the late, great Gerry L'Estrange of the Fine Gael Party and I cosponsored a motion to the effect that anyone who defaulted on the terms of a previous planning application should not receive planning permission in the future. At the time, there was no law in place to support our viewpoint in this regard. However, we were trying to send a signal to those intent on proceeding with housing developments in Westmeath that their activities would be closely monitored.

The Bill will require that in order to ensure greater transparency, amendments of draft development or local area plans which have been the subject of public consultation may only be changed in minor respects. I support public consultation. Westmeath County Council, of which I was a member for almost 25 years, has always discharged its responsibilities in this regard, and rightly so.

Under the new procedures in the Bill, the Minister is endeavouring to play a greater role and to take on greater responsibility. However, he should be extremely cognisant of the role of locally elected representatives.