Senior business leaders and energy industry experts in Ireland do not believe the State will achieve its renewable energy targets, according to a new survey carried out by Mason Hayes & Curran. The law firm surveyed nearly 200 delegates at its recent "Economics of Energy" event, and found that a
Planning
Des Johnson, former director of planning at An Bord Pleanála, has today been appointed as chairperson of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC). Mr Johnson's appointment follows the retirement of Bart Brady, who was the inaugural chair of the committee following its establishment as an independ
A bill to require nearly a third of all housing developments to be set aside for first-time buyers is set to be introduced by Fianna Fáil next month. The Planning and Development (Amendment) (First Time Buyers) Bill will be introduced by Fianna Fáil housing spokesperson Darragh O'Brien
Brendan Slattery, partner and head of environment and planning at McCann FitzGerald, considers recent court challenges to strategic housing developments. Last week, the third strategic housing decision to be challenged in the courts was quashed. Cairn Homes had its planning permission for 217 homes
The decision to grant planning permission for a large-scale housing development in Blackrock, Co Dublin, has been set aside in the High Court. Rejecting An Bord Pleanála’s argument that the breach of regulations was de minimis and didn’t affect the validity of the decision to gran
Beale & Co partner Sarah Conroy and trainee solicitor Cian O'Gorman consider whether a proposed bill represents a constructive step towards the refurbishment of Ireland's planning and building processes. In a move to respond to some of the shortfalls in the planning process, the Vacant Housing R