I trust @SenatorMcDowell won't mind when I say I don't find myself always in agreement with him - but today he outlined in compelling,informed passionate terms what is so undemocratic and flawed about the #PlanningBill
a 🧵on major intervention in #Seanad today - an education In one fell sweep @senatormcdowell said what should have been done to avoid the confusion over what's entirely new in the #PlanningBill vs what's the same as the current act or just tidied up

This issue is v disturbing as outlined b4 pgm airs.
But some points spring to mind immediately:
1. The vast majority engage in the #planning & appeals process at great personal cost in terms of their lives & time for the #publicgood so don't let a media pgm drive over-reaction

https://twitter.com/irishexaminer/status/1731629506518044712

It's critical this isn't allowed feed into a toxic narrative to supress participation & appeal rights
2. #AnBordPleanala when working at its best is an very important asset to aid good sustainable development. Local Authorities aren't always best equipped to balance interests &

Wondering what is really behind #BadPlanning #Travesty4OireachtasScrutiny & want to know what the Government is doing just on one of many bills before the #Dáil rises for summer recess next week? Well then brace yourself for this👇 On Apr 6th over 2 mnths ago, MoS
@peterburkefg
told the Seanad the Gov. planned to introduce #Seanad amendments on a whole range of other matters & to other legislation to an already complex & controversial #Planning bill on #SubstituteConsent
But they didn't, instead ...👇

Wondering what is really behind #BadPlanning #Travesty4OireachtasScrutiny & want to know what the Government is doing just on one of many bills before the Dáil rises for summer recess next week? Well then brace yourself for this👇 On Apr 6th over 2 mnths ago, MoS @peterburkefg told the Seanad the Gov. planned to introduce #Seanad amendments on a whole range of other matters & to other legislation to an already complex & controversial #Planning bill on #SubstituteConsent
But they didn't, instead ...👇

As an Irish citizen of a Constitutional Republic - I am yet again appalled this morning by what I witnessed this Government do to the #Oireachtas in the making of #legislation - facilitated today by @smytho a Minister of State in #DECC from @greenparty_ie - details below👇 On 14 June in 2nd stage debate on a bill on #CircularEconomy & #Mining the Minister flagged in less than 6 lines of words - a major scope change to the bill for "essential amendments on Committee Stage in this House to address some urgent matters concerning energy capacity" BUT👇

Extraordinary scenes in Seanad on deeply flawed Horticultural #Peat Bill. On top of exemption from #planning , the bill stayed enforcement action & disregarded unlawful extraction & more putting us clearly in breach of EU law - key parts of their #PeatBill NOT highlighted🤔& 👇 - #Peatbill didn't even bother to provide properly for allocation of all the assessments required by EU law. Talk about giving #falsehope to those impacted by the successive failures! U simply can't stick ur head in the bog when it comes to EU law - at least u shouldn't but 😱👇

Report from EU Commission highlights major inadequacies in materials submitted to #AnBordPleanala for remedial assessment on unlawful #DerryBrien #Windfarm. This is compounded by really serious failings in Board's handling of #PublicParticipation process
independent.ie/business/farmi… An application went to Board in August 2020, but a further round on consultation was triggered given changes made to the Irish legislation for this process to address issues identified in a Supreme Court ruling in July 1 in case taken by An Taisce. But ....

Confused about the #ClimateBill furore? Understandable! Will @EamonRyan amendment this evening address the concern arising from the amendments rushed in during the Seanad stage last week? No IMHO. Why? Respectfully I can only describe it as a red herring fix on a v dodgy powers. The amendments Government made at the last minute in Seanad allow for the establishment of a parallel accounting system & rules devised at the discretion of Gov in regulations, which will govern the all important carbon budget which is at the heart of the framework in the bill.

An all time low for an Irish Government has been hit. By pure chance this afternoon I noticed what appeared to be a Government motion to ratify the deeply controversial EU Canada Trade Deal #CETA next Tuesday 15 Dec. Yes the one with the dreaded #ICS #ISDS clauses. Yes its true - #CETA which so many #Greens had expressed opposition to... the one which leaves us massively exposed to claims from foreign investors .. the one we fear will create a regulatory chill making the Government even more reluctant to take effective #ClimateActions the one ..

Sick of #Golfgate? This long thread will (I hope) make u question this Gov & shout #DitchPippaHackettsBill It's on what's wrong with her bill & to urge u make a sub b4 5pm Fri 28th August if u care about #climate #nature #water #AccessToJustice #Forestry #community #HenHarrier So @pippa_hackett announced late Friday of the Aug Bank Hol, as the Dail arose for summer recess... a very short consultation (28 days) over the peak summer hols.. so many will miss it. .. So this was me 🤔 as I always worry when someone burys a consultation with its timing & ...