Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Most applications may be refused for three or four reasons. If something is refused for 16 reasons, however, we must question who was at fault in respect of the project. That does not create confidence. People look to An Bord Pleanála as the supreme authority. Now, its members are human beings, not gods, and mistakes can be made, etc. This is important.

I ask the Minister of State if consideration can be given to the aspect of the Bill concerning cases where An Bord Pleanála, or an coimisiún pleanála, is going to grant permission for a proposal that has previously been refused by the local authority. Should the coimisiún be given the opportunity, and I think it should, to liaise with the local authority, tell it what permission is going to be granted and ask what conditions the local authority concerned would like to see being attached? It would not be a debate about whether permission would be granted. I think this type of process would add somewhat, at least, to a decision being made in terms of taking account of the local issues people may have. I look forward to addressing other points on Committee Stage.