The Irish Times

An Taisce has called on the Government to curtail councillors' powers that allow them to force through planning permissions in the face of planners' advice that applications be refused. The call comes in the wake of more than 60 Section 140 motions before Kerry County Council last month directing the county manager to grant planning to developments likely to be refused. An Taisce has called on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, to amend the Local Government Act 2001 to curtail councillors tabling the controversial Section 140 motions.