Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I declare an interest in that I have referred some planning applications to the board in the past although I do not have any with it currently.

All Members accept the board was under immense pressure because of the amount of development taking place. If this section assists the board to make decisions which heretofore were taking an unacceptable time, then it is a good section. One would like to think the adjudication process for such matters has been appropriate be it a two-member or three-member quorum. I support the move towards allowing the technical assessment of a proposal to be done by the two members rather than letting it sit for weeks.

Certain issues will be referred to this group. However, one would have thought a board of nine members would be fit for purpose and organise its business to ensure the technical decisions in question would be adjudicated on properly and on time. It is not an easy process of just rubber-stamping decisions and this section contains appropriate mechanisms to deal with matters as suggested by the Minister of State.