Seanad debates

Wednesday, 13 July 2022

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:00 am

Photo of Rebecca MoynihanRebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the review of An Bord Pleanála by Mr. Remy Farrell and the internal report. The head of the strategic housing development, SHD, division, Mr. Paul Hyde, resigned on Friday following allegations and an investigation into some of the decisions he took. We need to ensure that the report into this matter is published in full by the Minister in order that we can see its contents and whether there was any reason for Mr. Hyde's resignation. I also ask that the internal report be published in order to ensure faith in our planning system. It has been very undermined by the SHD legislation and the number of judicial reviews that have been taken, especially in the context of the number that those involved lost.

With that in mind, I want object to the amendments being included in Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022, which deals with substitute consent and which is being taken in the Dáil today. That Bill will come to the Seanad tomorrow and will be debated for a mere 45 minutes. Substantial changes are being made at that last minute. These had obviously been in train and planned by the Minister. To rush Bill through the Houses, particularly in light of the issues relating to An Bord Pleanála and people's lack of faith in it, is a disgrace. When we legislate in haste, we tend to repent at leisure. That is very much the case with the SHD system. We do not know what is in the report but I imagine it will raise issues with regard to process, conflicts of interests and how the board allocates work. There are many people making substantial decisions for many communities throughout the country. I object to the Bill being rushed through and to the introduction of last-minute amendments without the Opposition being given sufficient opportunity to consider them in advance.

Senator Mullen referred to the biased report from the HSE. It is not a biased report. It relates to the lived experience of women who had been affected by Ireland's abortion laws. It is not anyone's ideological position but their lived experience. To call a report on the lived experience of people who have been at the raw end of those laws biased is an absolute disgrace. It should not be allowed to happen in this House.

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