Reply To: Senator McSharry – defender of democratic purity

Rory,absolutly spot on,

That change more than anything else has made the difference between ‘serious interference’ and ‘proper planning’ of course some poor schemes will slip through but at least there is an objective and independent 2nd stage adjudicator.

I think that both Alan and Devin are missing the point on An Taisce, it is the function of An Taisce to articulate the ‘heritage perspective’ for schemes, it is up to An Bord Pleannalla to decide which is the over-riding priority, new space or retention of a building.

It would be wrong of An Taisce not to make the case but just because they make a case doesn’t mean that it is automatically the deciding criteria.