Planning and Development Bill to be signed into law
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The Government's controversial new planning laws have passed through the Dáil despite criticism from the opposition over a lack of time to debate the bill.
In a final vote on Wednesday, the Planning and Development Bill 2023 was passed by 72 votes in favour to 60 against.
The bill will now move to be signed into law by President Michael D Higgins in the days ahead.
Opposition TDs had accused the Government of contempt, due to a lack of time to scrutinise the final stage of the bill.
A total of three hours was set aside to debate 177 pages of amendments to the legislation.
The Planning and Development Bill 2023 is the longest bill considered by the 33rd Dáil, and the third largest in the history of the State.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin accused Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien of contempt for the opposition by rushing the final stages of the bill.
“This is an entirely inappropriate way to progress legislation. I would go so far as to suggest that it shows a level of contempt for the opposition and the important role that we play,” Mr Ó Broin said.
His comments were echoed by Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan, who said that Mr O’Brien has previously needed to fix legislation he introduced.
“It does show a complete lack of respect for the democratic process and a whole process of legislative scrutiny,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
The housing minister rejected these accusations, saying there had been 115 hours of debate at committee stage.
Mr Ó Broin cited the concerns of the Irish Planning Institute, which has said the majority of professional planners do not have confidence in the new bill.
Criticism was also levelled by multiple TDs over the amendments around liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, which would see them designated as strategic infrastructure developments.
Opposition groups have said that this could lead to the fast-tracking of LNG terminals on the Irish coast, while the Government has insisted it is not a change in the existing policy against commercial LNG.
Mr O’Brien also defended the amendment, saying that it only aligns the new legislation with the planning bill from the 2000s and does not change the Government’s policy position on LNG.
The bill is an attempt to consolidate Irish planning law into a single piece of legislation, and includes changes to An Bord Pleanála, introducing mandatory timelines for decisions and reforming how judicial reviews can be taken against planning applications.