EU should have no say on Irish planning laws

THE EU Commission is due shortly to make a judgement on the legality or otherwise of Ireland’s planning laws.

In particular, the commission will be focusing on the practice of many local authorities which grant planning permission for once-off houses only to people who have family connections to the area in question.

I believe that the commission should not meddle in our planning laws.

Ever since the Maastricht Treaty was passed in 1992, we are supposed to be implementing what is known as the principle of subsidiarity in as many cases as possible.

This means that as much power as possible should be devolved from the EU both to national member states and to our local authorities.

I am a keen supporter of the EU project, but I believe the involvement by the commission in our planning laws at this time is a step too far.

Seán Ó Neachtain MEP

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