Search Results for 'Oireachtas Committee on Environment'

“This is a clash of ideals, people who want to see rural Ireland closed down and those who want to see it prosper,” was how Fianna Fáil councillor Al McDonnell described the challenge to the recently adopted Mayo County Council Development Plan (2014-2020) by the Department of Environment and Local Government. The Development Plan sets out a number of guidelines for planning and development in the county for the next six years, including the contentious issue of rural housing. It is the second time that the Department of Environment and Local Government has challenged the plan adopted by the members of Mayo County Council. In late 2008 a delegation from Mayo County Council travelled to Dublin and met the Oireachtas Committee on Environment when a similar issue arose, they put their case forward and were ultimately successful in getting the development plan they wanted passed. “We were right the last time and they were wrong,” was how Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle responded to a letter received by the councillors telling them to change the adopted plan.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has asked the delegation from Mayo County Council who will be giving a presentation to the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government next week to meet with him. Fianna Fáil Cllr Al McDonnell revealed the news to a special meeting of the council this week while discussing the presentation the delegation will make to the committee. Cllr McDonnell told the meeting that “just a few minutes ago Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv asked that that members of our delegation meet with him as soon as we are finished giving our presentation to the joint committee”. He continued saying that “he has been a good friend to Mayo, while we have been trying to develop the county there were others trying to stop us.”

Local Fine Gael TD James Bannon walked out of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage & Local Government on Tuesday, in protest at the Government’s failure to set up a river Shannon authority to ensure that flooding will not devastate housing, farming, business, and tourism in the Midlands again.