Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 19:

In page 33, to delete lines 9 and 10.

This amendment seeks to maintain the ordinary majority in votes on Part 8 developments. At the moment, councillors can amend or reject a Part 8 development through a normal vote at a council meeting. For reasons which may not have been explained to us, the Minister is proposing to change this provision. If the Minister gets his way the exercise by the elected members of a council will require a special majority of all members of the council, not simply a majority of those present at the meeting. In circumstances are councillors were ill or otherwise unable to attend a particular meeting, this undermines the democratic operation of the council. It tips the balance in favour of executive power and undermines the reserve function held by the elected members.