I move amendment No. 1:
In page 2, before section 1, to insert the following new section:
"1.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963 to 1992, no State authority shall be exempt from a general obligation to seek and obtain planning permission in respect of any construction or development which, if undertaken by any other body, company or individual, would require such permission.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any constructon or development which was completed prior to February 14th, 1993.”.
The section referred to gives wide-ranging powers to the Minister and the Office of Public Works — they have the right to build or demolish as they see fit. There is a general consensus that the Office of Public Works and the State agencies should be required to get permission. There are other factors coming into this debate and distorting it. These are particular issues which are affecting people in local areas at this time. In Cork County Council we have been debating the five year development plan for the past six months and we will be debating it for another six months. Every minute detail will be gone into and yet the State agencies will not be subject to any plan. Times have changed. New issues have been raised and, consequently, there is a need to move this amendment to the Bill.