Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with my colleagues. I understand the thrust of the amendments but I ask Senator Higgins how many brownfield site developments we have seen happen in any of our major cities in recent years. We are bringing forward this change because it has been deemed necessary post SHD to get rid of SHDs and get planning back to where it should be with the local authorities so the planners make the decisions on what is required in any given area. We are not changing it to up to 30% to enhance the commercial viability. It is about good planning and good facilities. There is nothing wrong with commercial. The way the Senator was saying it was like commercial was a problem. One of the issues we have had is where it is all residential and there are no facilities. We cannot build all residential. We want in the measures to give the planners the capacity.

Senator Casey mentioned something important. On Second Stage we went through it in some detail and I am grateful for Senators across the House who supported the Bill. The Bill went through Second Stage without dissent. We will have a detailed pre-application process. That was one of the good things that happened with SHDs. We have a better handle on and a plan-led approach to planning permissions being granted. All of this should come out in the wash. The idea in the amendments is that the Seanad or the Oireachtas start to put planning conditions on the planners. However, we are trying to bring back planning to those qualified to make those decisions at local authority level across the country. I cannot accept amendments Nos. 1 to 4.