Government under fire for rushing through planning law with limited time for debate

Just 2.5 hours are allocated to debate nearly 50 pages of new amendments which have been added to the original 18-page bill

Opposition TDs have criticised Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien for rushing the legislation — especially while a number of investigations into An Bord Pleanála are still ongoing. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and the Government have come under fire for rushing through legislation that could have a major impact on people’s ability to challenge planning decisions.

A raft of amendments to a planning bill going through the Oireachtas was published late last week and practically no time was given for scrutiny before a vote is taken tomorrow in an effort to get the bill passed before the end of the Dáil term.