Attracta Uí Bhroin: New Planning Bill provides fertile ground for corruption and extortion

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien. The new Planning Bill not only centralises power but pushes back on safeguards and public accountability.

Many of us were glued to the TV last Monday to watch RTÉ Investigates for yet more gory details of more problems in the area of planning in Ireland.

 Most people typically switch off when you mention “planning”. Not so this week. I am going to be very careful in commenting on specifics but what I will say is this: We all need to take stock and respond in a meaningful way to address the serious concerns and issues highlighted through the programme. We also need to be careful to avoid dog-whistles and allowing the implementation of knee-jerk measures which ultimately weaken our planning system.