Peter Burke | Business Post

FG minister censures McDonald over ‘sloppy’ SF party finances comments

Peter Burke, Minister of State for European Affairs, said Sinn Féin leader was trying to deflect attention from serious financial discrepancies

Morning Headlines

Peter Burke’s planning overhaul; Dutch Railways gets €250m liquidating Irish firms after tax row

The stories you need to read this morning in business, politics and current affairs – plus an in-depth interview with John Creedon, the radio and TV broadcaster

‘The most powerful tool we have is the planning code and it needs to be fit for purpose’ – Peter Burke

Minister of State with responsibility for planning says the Consolidated Planning Bill 2022 will pave the way for delivery of €165 billion in public infrastructure over the next ten years

New law to cut delays and red tape on planning applications

Sweeping reforms expected in upcoming bill include shorter deadlines for An Bord Pleanála decisions and changes to judicial review rules

Council to comply with ministerial order to overturn data centre ban

The chief executive of South Dublin County Council recommends data centres remain ‘open for consideration’ despite representatives calling for an effective ban on new developments due to energy and environmental concerns

South Dublin councillors call on Burke to withdraw order to reverse data centre ban

Minister of State for Housing last week told South Dublin County Council to reverse plans to zone data centres as ‘not permitted’ in draft development plan

Burke orders South Dublin council to scrap plans for ban on new data centres

Minister of State for Housing made rare intervention criticising councillors for plans to zone data centres as ‘not permitted’

Planning rules are ‘inimical to the common good’, IPI warns

The Irish Planning Institute says the government’s recent ‘developer-led’ changes have undermined the public’s confidence in the planning process

Minister orders Meath councillors to reverse rezoning of flood plains

Plans to authorise development in flood risk areas, including for housing elderly people, are to be shelved

Burke asked Dept of Housing to find ‘flaws’ in ESRI report

The minister’s office requested talking points to refute or contradict the findings of the ESRI report, which said the state could borrow billions to build social housing

Burke says ‘too many frivolous challenges’ being made to planning decisions

The minister said that a government review of the planning process could result in the setting-up of a dedicated planning court, as well as changes to how the costs of these cases are arrived at

Directly elected mayor will be ‘uncharted territory’ for Limerick

The country’s first ever directly elected mayor will be given strong powers to influence transport, policing and job creation, according to a new report