Emergency legislation to extend planning permissions that are due to lapse to go to Cabinet
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO extend planning permissions that are due to lapse is set to go to Cabinet this morning.
Minister James Browne will seek approval for measures to allow housing developers apply for a three-year extension on existing planning permission, in certain cases.
The legislation, which has been worked on alongside Minister of State for Planning John Cummins, seeks to ensure developments held up by factors such as judicial reviews, finance, and infrastructure constraints can still go ahead before permission lapses.
The move comes just six weeks after
The Journal
reported
that Cairns boss Michael Stanley had called for an emergency law to be introduced to stop thousands of planning permissions lapsing.
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Stanley, who is the CEO of one of the country's largest property developers, said that 10 to 15,000 planning approvals that have gone through the system are now at risk of lapsing.
He said last month that such legislation was needed and could be brought in 'overnight' if there was political will to do so.
Planning permissions, which are not implemented within a certain time period, generally five years, are at risk of lapsing if an extension isn't granted.
It is understood Browne and Cummins have carried out extensive work on the legislation in a bid to activate developments such as large scale apartments which might otherwise time out of planning permission.
The legislation, which was discussed by party leaders last night, involves two provisions to deal with expiring permission to encourage their activation.
Firstly, it is proposed a provision in the new Planning and Development Act 2024 will be brought forward, so that that holders of all permissions that have been through a judicial review can apply to the planning authority for a retrospective suspension of the period of time their permission was held up.
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Cairn Homes chief says emergency law needed to stop thousands of planning permissions lapsing
At the moment, the clock does not stop on a duration when the permission is subject to a judicial review which in some cases can take years.
The second provision will allow developers with just two years left on their permission to apply for an extension for up to three years.
However, in order to activate the development, the application for an extension must be made within six months of the legislation commencing and development must commence within 18 months of the commencement of the legislation.
The legislation to underpin the changes will be completed prior to the Dáil summer recess, with thousands of units are expected to be covered by this activation measure.
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Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Irish Times
The truth behind the Normans and Ireland: ‘They abolished slavery'
The Government has announced that it intends to participate in an international year in 2027 to celebrate Norman culture and the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror. Minister for Housing James Browne , himself of Norman heritage, said the year will acknowledge the huge impact that the Normans had on Ireland and other parts of Europe . However, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh described the plans as 'offensive' given the 'legacy of William's successors invading and subjugating Ireland in the name of his English crown'. So who is right and who is wrong? READ MORE The Irish Times sought the views of four experts: Seán Duffy is professor of medieval Irish history in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Brendan Smith is professor of medieval history at the University of Bristol. Conor Kostick is a historian and the author of Strongbow: The Norman Invasion of Ireland. Sparky Booker is an assistant professor in medieval Irish history at Dublin City University. Should Ireland participate in such celebrations? Seán Duffy: Yes, of course. Celebrating Norman culture – its scholars, architects and artists, the intellectual curiosity that gave rise to the medieval universities – is not the same as celebrating the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland and, contrary to what Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh has implied, nobody is proposing to do that. What is proposed is that the Norman cultural achievement be marked in 2027 in those parts of Europe which experienced it, in the same way that we value the achievement of ancient Greece or Rome, of Charlemagne and his Carolingian empire, or of Renaissance Florence under the Medici. Brendan Smith: It is a bit of a stretch. Ireland-Normandy contacts by the time Ireland was invaded in 1169 were slight. 'Norman culture' is a tricky concept. The culture the Normans invigorated and exported everywhere from Palestine to Pembrokeshire was French. There wasn't much that was specifically 'Norman' about it. A re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings in which, on October 14th, 1066, William the Conqueror's Norman-French forces defeated an English army, beginning the Norman conquest of England. The 'Normans' arrived in Ireland in 1169. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Conor Kostick: No [to celebrating William]. The guide to answering this question is in his name, William the Bastard, as he was known until he crushed his opponents. Should we celebrate Ireland's Norman heritage? Definitely. As with every period of settlement in Ireland – for example, the Vikings – the people who came here eventually made an important contribution to the development of our country, even if they first came to plunder. To what extent were the Anglo-Normans who arrived in Ireland from 1169 Anglo and/or Norman? Seán Duffy: The simple answer is that – almost without exception – whenever any of the so-called Normans who came to Ireland refer to themselves, they call themselves not Norman but English. What they mean by that is more complicated. They are not referring to what we might call ethnic identity, but rather asserting their political allegiance to the crown of England. The problem with painting everyone with the 'Norman' brush is that many of those who began arriving in Ireland in the late 1160s had probably never set foot in Normandy. [ Art in Focus: Daniel Maclise – The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife Opens in new window ] We don't know for certain because, to our shame, the kind of large-scale research we need to conduct into individual family origins – tracing the background of the Barrys, Costellos, Cusacks, Dillons, Joyces, Keatings, Powers, Purcells, Roches, Tobins and so many others – still hasn't been done. My hope is that one outcome of the Government's commitment to marking the Year of the Normans is that we start to get answers to such questions through detailed scholarly research. Brendan Smith: Some of the early conquerors of Ireland, such as Strongbow, had estates in Normandy as well as in England and Wales, but they were in a minority. All of them, from lord to peasant, regardless of what language they spoke, identified themselves as 'English', by which they meant they were subjects of the king of England and thus entitled to use English common law. The word 'Norman' is almost entirely absent from contemporary accounts of what happened in Ireland between 1169 and 1171. Sparky Booker: The answer to how 'Norman' these 'Anglo-Normans' were ... depends on the moment in time you are asking about as well as what aspect of their culture – language, architecture, law, politics – you focus on. This is one reason that, in my own work as a historian who primarily works on the later period, the 14th and 15th centuries, I use the term 'English of Ireland' rather than 'Anglo-Norman'. Were the Normans who arrived in Ireland civilisers, conquerors or both? Seán Duffy: One would be hard-pressed to demonstrate a single instance of the 'civilising' effects of the invasion because it was not about bringing civilisation, whatever its advocates at the time or since have averred. Brendan Smith: The invaders certainly portrayed themselves as bringing civilisation to a barbarian country. The papacy reinforced this message by praising King Henry II – who had only recently brought about the murder of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury – for bringing true Christianity to a people who, in religious terms, had lost their way. Conor Kostick : Both. The Normans were warriors who used their advantage in military technique to muscle their way to control of southern Italy, Sicily, Antioch, England, much of Wales, and – the last of their conquests – the east of Ireland. They wanted control of the wealth being created by land and trade and, having got it, were very eager to consolidate by becoming respectable members of the culture they had invaded. They were quick to marry into the local community, to secure religious approval via donations to the church, to appoint talented locals as administrators, to use local architectural styles. Those who lost out when the Normans arrived in any region were the local elites, who were killed and replaced. Those who benefited were everyone else. This was very evident in Ireland where the poorest people in 1169 were slaves. Slavery was rampant in Ireland. The Normans abolished slavery. Not that they were in favour of human rights. The Normans had learned that to farm grain efficiently it was better to use serfs, who kept a share of the crop and therefore had an incentive to improve the yields, than slaves. Sparky Booker: Rather than either or both, I would say that neither civiliser nor conqueror is the best term for the Anglo-Normans. Military activity was indeed a key part of Anglo-Norman activity in Ireland in 1169 and for centuries afterwards, but their conquest of Ireland was never completed in the medieval period and Irish lords maintained control over significant areas of the island. Is it the case that the English get all the blame for the '800 years of oppression' and the Normans get none? Seán Duffy: This is a classic example of our failure as a nation to dig deep into this invented past we have created. It entrenches a kind of nonsense. It was only in the 19th century that we began calling the invaders Normans – for two reasons, I think. One is the extraordinary popularity of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe (1819) which practically invented the myth of the Normans and made the Normans 'sexy'. The second reason is less benign and had to do with Anglo-Irish relations. In the 1840s, Daniel O'Connell became the first Irish nationalist leader to begin to repeat the refrain of 700 years of English oppression and it has remained a powerful message. In his statement on the Government plans to mark the Year of the Normans, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, no mathematician, referred to '900 years of occupation'. [ The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin vs the Normans: a cartoonish version of history Opens in new window ] And one way in which unionist historians, from the late 19th century onwards, could subvert this nationalist axiom was to implant the idea that for the first half of this 700 years the newcomers were not English but French-speaking Normans. The reality is that – whatever their direct or indirect links to the actual Normans of Normandy – most of those who settled in Ireland after 1169 came either from England or Anglo-Norman settlements in Wales. Brendan Smith: Not a Norman in sight in Ireland in 1169, so the fashion for calling the invaders 'Normans' really reflects something else. Study of the past in Ireland and elsewhere became more professionalised in the late 19th century, and that's when 'the Normans' really take off in how Irish people thought about what had had happened in 1169. It avoided a whole range of sensitive issues to call the invaders 'Normans' rather than call them what they called themselves: 'English.' If the Irish Government arranged a 'celebration of 850 years of English culture in Ireland' in 2019 it escaped my attention. Conor Costick: The oppression of Ireland by England really begins to accelerate when England becomes economically more powerful from the end of the 16th century. Back in 1169 we are looking more at a game of thrones between medieval kings and lords, rather than one nation trying to subjugate another into its economic growth. So I wouldn't blame the Normans for English imperialism. After all, the Normans conquered England as well. What do you feel about the statement made by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó'Snodaigh that King Charles III is in a line of English kings going back to William the Conqueror? Seán Duffy: I am not remotely persuaded by Deputy Ó Snodaigh's argument that we should ignore the Year of the Normans 'with the North still under the descendants of William the Conqueror's crown'. As of now, for good or ill there exists in these islands an entity whose official name is the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. No organ of this State denies that the 'Normans' came to Ireland as conquerors. But as with Ireland's extraordinarily mature and successful commemorations during the Decade of Centenaries, we can use the 2027 millennium to see where Ireland fits into the Norman world. Conor Kostick: In essence, I don't think this is correct. It gives the impression that Strongbow's invasion was the foundation for later imperial conquest, settlement and occupation of Ireland. But it was a different era and the victorious Normans weren't in Ireland to send wealth to the kingdom of England. They had come to stay.
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Wow, brilliant find' people say as shopper shows off 70p laundry haul with buys slashed to a quarter of normal price
A SHOPPER has been praised for sharing their haul after nabbing laundry essentials for a quarter of the normal price in Asda. The thrifty person took to Facebook to post about their epic find, after a trip to their local supermarket. 2 One chuffed shopper took to Facebook to share their epic laundry finds Credit: extremecouponingandbargainsuk/facebook 2 They nabbed the amazing deals at their local Asda in Retford Credit: Getty In a post on the "I just picked these up in Asda," they wrote. They then revealed they'd paid £1 each for the boxes of Fairy laundry pods - usually £4.50 a pop, and big bottles of Lenor for just 70p. Also in their spree was two bottles of the ASDA Pure Cotton Sensitive Fabric Softener, which they got for 68p each rather than £2.48. Read more Shopping stories And other jealous shoppers took to the comments section to weigh in on the person's find, with one writing: "Wowsas, brilliant find!" "Bloody hell, never that cheap near me!" another sighed. "I wish this would happen to me lol, never EVER does!" a third insisted. "I really wanna get to my Asda but then I don't ever get good bargains." someone else moaned. Most read in Fabulous "Some people are lucky!" another pointed out. "Well done!" someone else said. 'I only went in for cheese!' shopper admits as she's wowed by new Asda arrivals, including the 'perfect holiday co-ord' "I got some a week or so ago, but not that cheap. Shared them with family as I bought a lot." "Bargain, there at the right time!" another raved. However, others accused the bargain hunter of "telling porkies". "I went Asda last night and they were normally priced at our Asda," one wrote. To which another added: "She's telling the truth. "I got some today in Asda for £1, I bought all and made the worker get the rest from the top shelf… it was the Bold ones though." How to save at Asda Shop the budget range Savvy shopper Eilish Stout-Cairns recommends that shoppers grab items from Asda's Just Essentials range. She said: "Asda's budget range is easy to spot as it's bright yellow! Keep your eyes peeled for yellow and you'll find their Just Essentials range. "It's great value and I've found it has a much wider selection of budget items compared to other supermarkets. Sign up to Asda Rewards The savvy-saver also presses on the importance of signing up to Asda's reward scheme. She said: "Asda Rewards is free to join and if you shop at Asda you should absolutely sign up. "As an Asda Rewards member, you'll get exclusive discounts and offers, and you'll also be able to earn 10% cashback on Star Products. "This will go straight into your cashpot, and once you've earned at least £1, you can transfer the money in your cashpot into ASDA vouchers. We've previously rounded up the best supermarket loyalty schemes - including the ones that will save you the most money. Look out for booze deals Eilish always suggests that shoppers looking to buy booze look out for bargain deals. She said: "Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%. "The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C. "Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save." Join Facebook groups The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store. Eilish said: "I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store. "Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases. "For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda's new Barbie range spotted in store. "Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p." "It is in our store as well, it's all deleted lines," someone else said. "They went down last week at my store," another added. "The colleagues had most of them so might be the same in other stores. "Doesn't get a chance to go out on the shop floor!"
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Former senior Trump official says special relationship with Ireland won't stop president's trade war
Mairead Maguire IRELAND WILL LIKELY become collateral damage in Donald Trump's efforts to put America first – but it's nothing personal. That's according to Mick Mulvaney, a former Republican congressman who was Trump's acting chief of staff in his first term and who has a unique insight into how the president operates. He spoke to The Journal at the Global Economic Summit in Killarney, where tariffs and trade were headline issues. Trump, Mulvaney says, wants to make deals where everyone wins. But if that's not possible, he'll make sure America wins, even at the cost of special relationships. 'His first interest is to take care of Americans. It's not to say, 'You know what, I hate Ireland. Let's just stick it to them'. That's not how this works. 'Why are American businesses doing business in Ireland when they could be doing it in the United States? That's the perspective.' Mulvaney said, however, that there is a real connection with Ireland. 'It's familial, it's cultural. 'The Irish are so naturally good at diplomacy. It is one of your competitive advantages in the world marketplace. I don't understand why it's been struggling the last two years.' Mulvaney says 'dramatic missteps' made by the Irish government – particularly in relation to Palestine – have caused a 'blip' in the strong relationship. He said he understands the parallels between Ireland and Palestine, and the government's decision to join Spain and Norway in recognising it as a state, but he claims Washington was blindsided by it. 'What I don't understand is why nobody called us beforehand. Friends don't do that to each other. 'I found out about it in the press. I understand that my government found out about it in the press.' Then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced his intention for Ireland to recognise the state of Palestine weeks in advance, after months of discussions. The government is set to green light the Occupied Territories Bill – another move expected to ruffle Republican feathers. Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been revising the bill, making substantial amendments to the original text in order to bring it in line with the constitution and reduce the risk of a clash with EU law. As a result, the bill is expected to only cover goods and not services, such as products from online tech companies. Advertisement Even in its revised, stripped-back version, Mulvaney says the bill is unlikely to be well received in Washington. 'If you're pro-Palestinian, to half of my country you have to explain why that's not antisemitic.' On the trade war with Europe, Mulvaney's reading of the situation is that Republicans don't see the bloc as a viable ally in the long run. This, he says, is partly because the priorities for many younger European voters, such as climate change, conflict with Washington's priorities. Trump this week paused his threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union until 9 July, postponing them from the original 1 June deadline he had initially given. 'A weird time' Mulvaney quit his role in the White House after the Capitol riots of 6 January 2021. He was a Republican congressman in the House of Representatives before becoming director of the Office of Management and Budget and then acting chief of staff for Trump. He also sought out the role of Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, as he's 'been coming here for 20 years'. His ancestors are from Mayo. Mulvaney now regularly appears in American and international media as a commentator on politics and economics. He says it's a 'weird time' for his country, as significant figures in both the Republican and Democratic parties are aging. Joe Biden, who dropped out of the presidential race last year, recently announced a cancer diagnosis. As for Trump, the constitution prevents him for running for a third term. Mulvaney believes the 2028 presidential race will be of particular importance. 'It will represent generational change in both parties, and that will be fascinating to see.' Both parties, he says, have a good lineup of potential candidates. His ones to watch? Within the Democratic Party: Senator Cory Booker, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Among Republicans, he tips current vice president JD Vance to run. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also ones to watch. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
