Mark Dearey (Green Party)

It was through an unhealthy set of relationships, partly caused by the shortcomings of the Planning and Development Act 2000, that considerable overzoning was spawned. This, in turn, led to speculative purchasing on the back of reckless lending. There are untold stories concerning planning, planning advice and council decisions that need to be addressed. The pain we are all enduring with regard to NAMA will be for naught, unless we change the planning system.

The Bill passed through the Dáil on the same day as the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009. Rightly, the latter stole the lion's share of the publicity on the day.