Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and well-argued position put forward by Senator Cummins follows the line that councillors have the right to vote for zoning and to bring in their development plan. Their ability to bring in the development plan has been extended to ensure that we have full public consultation in the context of Covid-19. All of that has been done.

This very narrow qualification of the normal rights of councillors arises where they do not have - or in the absence of where they have voted for zoning of residential land - have this in a development plan but are still not building or providing residences or much-needed homes. It is reasonable for section 183 to be suspended in situations and in the context where those very qualified criteria obtain. That is what Senator Cummins said and is what the record of this House will say and for anyone to misrepresent it is a gross abuse of their position this House. It is a despicable-----