Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(a) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1):

“(1A) To ensure the currency and validity of the bodies included for the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister shall—

(a) in the month of January of each year, write to each of the bodies prescribed in accordance with subsection (1) requesting they confirm their continued existence and active operation, within one month of receipt of the Minister’s letter,

(b) Where no response is received from a body or organisation to a request under paragraph (a) confirming their continued existence and active operation, the Minister shall as soon as may be, prescribe another body as a replacement for that body or organisation, so as to ensure and maintain the currency and validity of the panel system under subsection (1), and

(c) The Minister shall inform any body or organisation impacted by proposal to remove them under paragraph (b) and they may request to be considered also when the Minister is considering updating the prescribed bodies to avoid any unjust or unfair replacements.”,”

There is merit in the panel system. An Bord Pleanála is in crisis. It has been rocked by a series of scandals, resignations and early retirements. There is no doubt that the panel system for appointing ordinary board members needs reform. However, our preference is for a hybrid system incorporating panels, including new panels for the environmental and community sectors. We deal with some of that in the amendment.