Critical infrastructure bill

dublin | environment | event notice Wednesday February 15, 2006 20:44 by c murray - TaraWatch dotliath at eircom dot net n/a 4978026

Press conference@ Custom house.

Tomorrow sees the introduction of the Critical infrastructure bill
which will fast track planning in the State. Minister Dick Roche will
hold a press conference at the Dept of the Environment at 2.30pm.
The bill seeks to set up a new branch of An Bord Pleanala to fast-track
planning matters in the State.This will necessarily affect the present
system, wherein there is a structured mode of objection.
Can anyone get a photographer down there?

The original bill mooted by the dept wanted to abolish the role of
an Bord Pleanala,but relented after strenous objection from Michael mc Dowell
(cf Irish Times, 14/02/06). the new bill intends to legislate for fast-track planning
through the creation of a separate branch within ABP. This bill will have
repurcussions for community protest and will probably dilute the process
by which we can object to corporate greed.I will try and get a series of questions to
the mainstream media covering the issues.