Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I very much welcome the intended appointment of an independent planning consultant by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the 12 recommendations made in the review of the planning system in a number of local authorities. Clearly, there was a lack of guidance on how rules should be enforced and the system administered. The report highlighted serious issues, including instances of maladministration and inconsistency in the application of planning laws. I look forward to the independent consultant assessing all of the actions taken and, I hope, proposing additional measures that he or she deems appropriate. There are broader themes and perhaps there will be further recommendations. I do not say because the report did not find evidence of corruption that I do not believe there is corruption, but there may have been in the past. Provincial town centres have been decimated by out-of-town developments that should not have been allowed by managers. Will the Leader in early course fit in a debate on planning in the light of the Minister of State's announcement yesterday and the recommendations made in the review? I acknowledge we had a debate on the Mahon tribunal report, but we should have a debate that concentrates on the recommendations made in the report. I ask the Leader to give consideration to this matter.