Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-16
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

I thank the Senator for her amendment. I agree with the broader sentiment of the amendment. Work is already under way within the Department and across the regulatory system. I do not, therefore, accept this amendment because of the work which I will describe. In February of this year, I stood up an infrastructure regulatory simplification unit in my Department. The unit is working with regulators across the system to streamline permitting processes, with a particular focus on critical infrastructure. This work has involved engagement with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, An Coimisiún Pleanála, the National Monuments Service and broader regulators, such as the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, local authorities, the HSE and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. Just last week, my Department hosted a workshop with all of these bodies that was focused on co-ordination and engagement within the regulatory system in the delivery of critical infrastructure. The need to improve efficiency and drive reform is central to the work of the unit.
Regulatory reform across the system is already showing progress.
To give an example, MARA has introduced a number of reforms with my Department to reduce the regulatory burden and streamline the processes to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure, including applying the principles of proportionality. We are going to see a reduction in time in that respect. Further work is under way to assess bottlenecks and to identify solutions and ways in which permitting can be taken in parallel, as opposed to sequentially. These reforms will be progressed through changes within the permitting bodies and Departments and some legislative change may be required. We will also be using the joint utilities and transport clearing house to enhance and progress co-ordination and reform. The Bill will help to drive some of these reforms too. I do not believe it is necessary to have this legislative amendment as this work is already under way and will be a core focus of my work over the coming months.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:03+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-16