Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the EU ruling in June 2007 on the locals only and must speak Irish planning rules that were deemed illegal and discriminatory; his further views on whether section 47 should be lifted based on this ruling and whether it is fair to attach planning to a particular individual rather than the merits of the site; the position regarding the EU proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10110/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department received a Letter of Formal Notice dated 27 June 2007 from the European Commission under Article 226 of the Treaty, seeking the observations of the Government on whether the "local needs" test contained in a number of County Development Plans for the granting of planning permission for one-off dwellings in rural areas is compatible with Articles 43 and 56 of the EC Treaty which guarantee respectively the freedom of establishment and the free movement of capital.

My Department responded to the Commission's enquiry on 28 September 2007 and presented a strong defence of our current rural planning policies and practices; in addition, my Department met with officials from the European Commission on 25 February 2008 to discuss the matter further.