IBEC seeks laws to speed up planning system

The employers' body IBEC has called for the introduction of legislation to help speed up the planning process in Ireland.

The organisation said new laws are needed to make it easier to complete projects like the M50 motorway or the Corrib gas terminal within a shorter time-frame.

The laws, it said, should make it more difficult for people to object to planning decisions.

IBEC spokesman Brendan Butler said: "We have a first-class economy, but we've a Third World type of infrastructure.

"We need to set up a brand new system for planning decisions."