Michael Fitzmaurice: Habitats Directive is blocking projects
Michael Fitzmaurice addresses the Dáil about a new critical infrastructure bill, supporting its aims but warning it will not solve deep procedural blocks. He says the Habitats Directive and court interpretations of the climate bill are holding up essential projects across the country.
Key point: support with caveats
Michael Fitzmaurice supports the bill because it pushes critical infrastructure to the top of the list, but he questions whether it will be effective unless other barriers are addressed. He urged accountability in the Dáil and warned that the bill alone cannot clear every obstacle.
Local examples and delays
Fitzmaurice cited concrete cases such as Galway Hospital and the Galway Outer Ring Road to show how long projects can be delayed. He warned that routine conservation procedures have stalled roads, water, sewer and airport works, sometimes for years.
Habitats Directive and procedural problems
He criticised how the Habitats Directive process can create disproportionate delays, giving the example of a snail-related blockage in Sligo that held up a water project for a decade. He described the current situation as chaotic and called for reform to streamline decision-making.
Climate bill and legal uncertainty
Fitzmaurice said he is watching court decisions around the climate bill closely and fears some court definitions could further threaten road and infrastructure projects. He called for compatible legislation to avoid future legal conflicts while respecting the courts.
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Look I think an amendment, some accountability has to be brought to the Dáil here. I do support the bill because I think that we need to, but like what is it doing? It's basically bringing critical infrastructure projects up to the top of the pile, to put it simple. I noticed that you said earlier on Minister, and you said it before, that private infrastructure projects aren't part of this. The one thing I would say to you, there is projects held up for you, Galway Hospital for example is one, critical infrastructure needed because it covers the west, north west and all that area. Galway Outer Ring Road, we all know about it, 30 years on the go. But as I said to you earlier, I think there's two things that we have to address as public reps, and if they're not addressed, we can put them to the top of that ceiling there, the bills, the critical infrastructure. The Habitats Directive is blocking progress on any building jobs around this country, be it road, be it sewer, be it water, be it airports, be it ports or whatever. And unless we do something with that when you have the presidency, and there's a lot of the sceptics, we'll be going against you if you go open your mouth about this, let's call a spade a spade. But the rigmarole you have to go through, a snail that didn't exist below on Sligo held up a water project for 10 years. Just think of that. Now, like the lunatics are running the asylum to be quite frank about it. When you look at that, that's what's happening. So we have got to do that. And Minister, I believe the sooner or later politicians will have to face back to the climate bill, because I'm watching what the courts have decided on in some of what they have said. And I would be very fearful for road projects and other types of projects with some of the definitions I see coming out of the courts on the climate bill. Because if that goes down the road, I believe legislation has to be brought in to try and resolve that so that we'd be compatible with the courts. I'm not criticising the courts, that we'd be compatible and that it would work. And the two things I would say to you, but if they're not done, we support critical infrastructure bills, but unless that's done, I think we're in trouble.
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