Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is worth stating the Bill seeks "to amend and extend the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2015 and for that purpose to establish an office, to be known as the Office of the Planning Regulator, to evaluate and carry out assessments relating to planning matters and provide observations and recommendations in relation to those matters, to conduct reviews and examinations and to conduct education and training programmes and research in relation to planning matters; to provide for the organisation and staffing of that Office". It goes on to state more, but I want to keep the focus on the initial content that I read.

I thank the Minister of State for introducing the Bill. This morning the Minister took a Commencement matter I had tabled and touched on many of the issues involved. I thought that was important as the Mahon tribunal had made a number of recommendations. The time for looking back and saying what we should have done is over. We have learned from it. Terrible mistakes were made which must be addressed. We need an independent planning regulator. The establishment of the office is to be welcomed. It is the subject of a commitment in the programme for Government and I am glad that the Government is acting on it.

The Office of the Planning Regulator must be fully and truly independent. We will need reassurance in that regard. The regulator must not be subordinate to the Government or the Minister of the day. That issue is more or less being addressed but I will have to seek reassurance on it. That is the reason I will table some amendments to the Bill as the office must be truly independent and properly resourced. It must operate with true independence and have the necessary staff and resources that it needs. In that way, people will have greater confidence in the planning process. That is an important point to make.

I want to touch on the reserved and executive functions. I have received a number of complaints in the past week from city councillors who have told me that they are frustrated by the executives when they request to see planning files. In the case of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, on which I served, I learned from two councillors today - I have yet to validate this information, as I have yet to make contact with the director of planning - that they were told that they would not be facilitated in requesting to see particular major planning files which were to come before their committee. If that is the case, it is wholly wrong and we need to do something about it. I hope I will have the Minister of State's support in that regard. I have not had the information officially clarified, but I hope to have it clarified by the close of business today.

I draw Minister of State's attention to an article in today's edition of The Irish Timesby its political editor, Pat Leahy, on new rules aimed at curbing challenges in proceeding with key building projects. The article suggests - only suggests - that the Government discussed these matters yesterday and that there was a suggestion that it would tighten the judicial review process and the right of people to object. I would be wholly against this. Good open government is healthy. I took time today to follow and track a number of Ministers who would have discussed this matter yesterday to check their records. I will start with myself. The Minister of State is very familiar with the North-South interconnector project and the huge opposition to it from Ministers and Deputies from all parties and none.