Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 14 seeks to insert a provision that provides for the laying of a report by the Minister before the Houses post introduction of the proposed legislative amendments. Similar to my response on amendment No. 13, amendment No. 14 seeks to impose a ministerial obligation to lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas, within six months of the passing of this Act, outlining the implications or impact of this legislation in respect of the powers of local authorities in respect of substitute consent processes, the appropriate consideration of local development plans in planning, public consultation in respect of planning, and the right of the public to participate in environmental decision-making as provided for under the Aarhus Convention. While I understand the intention behind the proposed amendments, I am opposing amendment No. 14, because existing planning reporting arrangements are already in place that are robust and fit for purpose. All planning decisions and related information are published promptly to the website of An Bord Pleanála and, additionally, these provisions will have no substantive implications for local development plans and consultations thereof. The right of public participation in the environmental decision-making element of substitute consent is provided for in the planning Act, as amended by this Bill. For these reasons, we will not accept amendment No. 14.

I assure Members in relation to misinformation about the watering down of powers to local authorities that, in the first instance, the powers relating to substitute consent for local authorities are unchanged. They provide a detailed planning report in the substitute consent process to An Bord Pleanála. Second, on enforcement, normal enforcement powers apply under normal planning rules under the planning Act.