Opposition criticises 'disturbing' powers for Housing Minister under planning law

TDs criticise measure in the Planning and Development Bill 2023 that would allow the Housing Minister of the day to use regulatory powers to change the laws if difficulties were raised while implementing it

The section of the bill would allow for any housing minister to introduce secondary legislation — or regulations — that would amend the main planning bill without requiring Oireachtas oversight. Picture: Denis Minihane

Opposition TDs have branded sweeping powers set to be granted to the Housing Minister under new planning laws as “disturbing”.

Both Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin and the Social Democrats' Cian O’Callaghan criticised a measure in the Planning and Development Bill 2023 that would allow the Housing Minister of the day to use regulatory powers to change the laws if difficulties were raised while implementing it.