Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

While it is good that the application will go back to the planning authority, the authority is then constrained in what it can do with it. I noted the exception to environmental factors and I imagine it is due to the Aarhus Convention and the rights in respect of environmental planning and the rights of the public to consultation, which is a core issue. This is a second pass. It is a pass in terms of whether there has been a strengthening. We cannot be retrospective but if people are coming back again looking for permission for modifications, it is an opportunity to raise the bar a little. It is a pity not to use it if, in the interim period, improvements have been made in something such as Part M of the building regulations on disability access. I will indicate that I might come in with specific amendments on Part M that address this. Similar to the environmental exemption, it should be an exemption that is used and addressed.