Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the efforts being made to make An Bord Pleanála more efficient. In the past there have been backlogs and delays, but that may have been due to the amount of development taking place. I have no problem with legislation that will improve efficiency and the decision making process within the board. However, we in the Fine Gael Party think it a retrograde step to reduce the number of board members required to make decisions, even in the case of small appeals. This legislation allows for two members of An Bord Pleanála to make a decision rather than the heretofore requirement of three members. We believe it creates a democratic deficit to allow just two members make the decision. Basically, on any committee there is always an odd number making decisions, or at least someone with a casting vote. Reducing the requirement for making a decision to two members is a retrograde step. I understand the logic behind it was to allow greater efficiency by requiring fewer members, but it creates an issue with regard to decision making. There should be at least three members so as to be able to have a natural majority, whether for or against a decision.

I would also, without mentioning a specific case, like to highlight the fact that proper records of meetings where decisions were made by An Bord Pleanála were not kept, yet some of these decisions exposed the taxpayer to high costs due to cases being taken to the High Court. Proper records and minutes of meetings held by An Bord Pleanála members when they made decisions were not always kept. They may have made the right decisions or may not. Proper records were not kept and proper procedures were not followed in a case in Kildare, for example. Any efficient measures or procedures introduced through legislation to ensure a proper and transparent process are welcome.