Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not know how this arises on the section as it now is, given that the amendment has been defeated, but in response to Senator Paddy Burke, it seems that to say there is no constraint on what councillors can or cannot propose by way of an amendment to a draft plan or insert into a plan is at variance with the experience of many councillors. Their experience is that the executive of a council advises them that any particular amendment would be in breach of the Government's guidelines, or whatever it may be. If they continue to make such an amendment by majority, the result, as I understand it, is that they receive a direction from the Planning Regulator to delete the amendment. Unless the Minister overrides the Office of the Planning Regulator, the result is that councillors cannot make an amendment to a part of the development plan. That is my view of the matter, and many people in the Chamber might share my view. I do not believe there is an unrestricted right on the part of councillors to have one-off housing wherever they want and I do not think that is the experience of county councillors around the country.