The Labour Party will "vigorously oppose" Government proposals to introduce a fee for objecting to planning permission, according to Mr Eamon Gilmore.
"The Planning and Development Bill being debated in the Dail . . . is seriously eroding the rights of the public in relation to the planning process," he said.
While the amount of the fee was not specified in the Bill, the "undenied speculation" was that it would be £20.
"This proposal is anti-democratic and unjust. The whole planning system is based on public participation" and was designed "to give the public an opportunity to voice their opinion".
The proposal was unjust in that it would most discriminate against those who could least afford to part with £20.
He called on the Minister to withdraw the proposed fee.
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