Jack Chambers
Dublin West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We have been clear about the absolute necessity to protect the huge ecosystem of digital and infrastructure investment in Ireland over the past ten to 20 years. Part of that has been the wider and ongoing discussion on the security of subsea cables.”
“Progress in achieving balanced regional development and detailing the delivery of the NDP is monitored through regular updates on the capital investment tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer.”
“The tax strategy group examines the different options that are available to the Government during the summer. That informs the respective tax package that will advance. We have to honest about the measures we take in terms of taxation. They have to be sustainable and affordable in the long term. USC brings in about €5.5 billion per year.”
“I am not privy to the interaction the Deputy had with the Minister for housing on this, but the Local Government Fund distributes the respective funding across different local authorities, and Galway County Council and Galway City Council would receive allocations through that. I was clear in my initial response to Deputy O'Hara.”
“My Department has taken a proactive and co-ordinated approach to supporting the responsible and effective adoption of AI across the public service.”
“More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework, which sets out the wider spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,309 lines we hold for Jack Chambers, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 27.
“Disapplying section 15 to critical infrastructure projects does not mean that projects will not be subject to climate and environmental assessments. These will still take place as part of the development process for these initiatives. Every Exchequer-funded project is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under the infrastructure guidelines. That provides an important incentive to minimise emissions, where it is cost effective to do so. Similarly, every individual-----”
“I want to be clear that I see judicial review as an important tool that ensures decisions made by bodies carrying out public functions are transparent, fair and accountable and adhere to the principles of legality, procedural propriety and rationality. However, as the administrative complexity of the State has evolved, the application of this test to a significant number of decisions made by public bodies has the practical effect of potentially delaying the development of critical infrastructure. This imposes real costs on taxpayers and on society in general. People have referenced the Galway ring road. Multiple critical projects over the last 20 years are going through process after process. People want us to get things done and not be outsourcing responsibility or risking delivery of projects to the courts.”
“It would be irresponsible for us in our role as legislators to leave the risks associated with this system in place. Removing the application of section 15 from designated projects or programmes simply removes one avenue for potential judicial review. It does so on the basis that the provision could delay the development of infrastructure and introduce uncertainty in the development system. As the accelerating infrastructure report demonstrated, there is a clear link between the increasing number of judicial reviews over time and the hesitation and consequent delays this risk introduces into decision-making processes, and we have to be responsive to this. This is in line with action 6 of our plan, where the Government undertook to respond more rapidly to precedent, where warranted.”
“However, the climate Act is clear that the national climate targets will be achieved through the accumulation of mitigation measures that are put in place on a sectoral basis, with each Minister responsible for achieving these targets in the sector of the economy for which they are responsible. Having a parallel system that attempts to determine whether every public body in the approval process has sufficient regard to the climate characteristics of each individual infrastructure development is a real departure, in my view, from the intended structure of the climate Act. It is also an abdication of responsibility. How An Coimisiún Pleanála should weigh, for example, the public safety benefits of a road improvement versus the potential impact on emissions is not something that should be determined by the courts on a case-by-case basis.”
“This is a tangible demonstration of the uncertainty that the application of section 15 is adding and could add to infrastructure development. The Government has signed up to ambitious climate targets. We are accountable to our citizens and legally to the EU on the achievement of these targets. There is no change whatsoever to our ambition, our targets or our climate policies as a result of this legislation. Similarly, the role played by public bodies in the achievement of the climate targets is set out at multiple levels and is reflected in strategies, policies and investment plans. It includes assessment of the climate and environmental impacts of any proposal that may be developed.”
“This avenue is where a public body has had adequate regard to a range of climate policies and strategies in its consideration of any development proposal. This is not idle speculation on my part. Published analysis of the recent Supreme Court judgment on Coolglass by legal professional and others has noted the higher evidential bar that would be imposed on public bodies as a result of that judgment. The issue is that in many cases, whether a public body has had adequate regard to climate considerations would be an inherently subjective assessment. Indeed, one piece of published legal analysis noted that how decision-makers square away conflicting objectives and obligations is likely to be decided in another decision of the court on another day.”
“There has also been reference to section 7 disapplying section 15 of the climate Act. This is an important and substantive change which we discussed at length on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. I remain strongly of the view that the disapplication of section 15 of the climate Act is necessary to accelerate the provision of critical infrastructure in the country. There has been a lot of what I would describe as misinformation about the motives for this provision and its practical impact. Section 15 of the climate Act and the Supreme Court's recent interpretation of this section effectively establishes a potential extra barrier to infrastructure by creating a new avenue for judicial review.”
“I do not believe that adding a requirement for both Houses of the Oireachtas to positively approve each and every designation order would be an efficient use of time. It could add an additional and unnecessary layer of uncertainty to the infrastructure development process. In that context, I will not be accepting the amendment. I was asked a question specifically relating to private projects. Section 1 of the Bill states that a project is something "funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body". Some of the statements about private data centres are just inaccurate in relation to this Bill. It does nothing to enable them in the context of critical infrastructure and that is set out in the detail of the Bill.”
“This reflects wider accountability but broader questions can also be asked of me or my Department, as would occur through the normal process, as set out on Committee Stage. While I intend to recommend the designation of only a small number of projects or programmes, I believe it would be disproportionate to require each designation order to receive an individual assent from both Houses of the Oireachtas. The focus of the Bill is on accelerating the pace of critical infrastructure delivery. This is within the broader framework of the accelerating infrastructure plan published late last year. Part of this wider work includes taking a cold, hard look at the legislation and the regulatory process to determine which ones are fit for purpose and which ones may trap infrastructure investment in process without purpose.”
“I will deal with amendments Nos. 1 and 2 in the first instance. Members have raised the climate Act, so it might be useful to address that specifically. I will not accept these two amendments. There is a clear process for the designation of individual projects and programmes set out in the Bill, as currently drafted. The process already includes a provision that allows Dáil Éireann to reverse any Government decision to designate a specific project or programme. Specifically, an order may be annulled if a resolution annulling the order is passed by Dáil Éireann within the next 21 days on which Dáil Éireann has sat after an order is laid before it. In practical terms, this gives Dáil Éireann ample time to consider any order the Government makes.”
“We know from local authorities and developers that the infrastructure gap is something that constrains overall housing supply. All of this reform will help speed up the housing supply.”
“To build homes, we have to have transport, energy and water systems in place. That is why the work with utilities to build that enabling infrastructure is absolutely critical. There will be wider co-ordination with the housing activation office, which is working on this at a local level, for example, in Offaly. What are the opportunities to advance housing supply and growth at a local level? Where is there particular road or water infrastructure or a need from an energy perspective to advance housing supply? That work is happening with the housing activation office. What we are doing in my Department is with the utilities at a national level to remove the blockages, barriers and constraints to overall delivery, which they have. All of that will yield improved delivery, improved timelines and ultimately strengthen housing supply.”
“The Critical Infrastructure Bill will also help fast-track projects through the respective permitting, licensing and approval processes. The infrastructure task force is already bringing about reforms and changes to some of the regulatory functions that exist within regulators in respect of how they deliver infrastructure and how their processes need to be reformed to better enable infrastructure delivery.”
“There are a few changes being made. I referenced the infrastructure guidelines earlier, and that is an important change. They will save significant time and they have already advanced. Separately, we are seeking to put in place a standardised template on business case development. We know a business case can take a short time with particular agencies and utilities but, in certain instances, it drifts into years. The wider public discussion often focuses on judicial reviews and reforms in that space - we need to advance that reform - but there is also a lot of time wasted at the early phase of a project around concept design. That is why the National Development Finance Agency is being stood up. It is broadening its remit to reduce the time at all elements of the project lifecycle.”
“The removal of bottlenecks has been progressed through the joint utilities and transport clearing group. Capacity and productivity reforms within the construction sector have been advanced through publication of the workforce and skills plan and the restructuring of the construction sector group to drive procurement, innovation and digitalisation. Engagement to support leadership and public acceptance has intensified, and that work is ongoing. In quarter 2 of 2026, the focus will be on advancing priority legislation, progressing planning, regulatory and EU-related reforms, strengthening oversight of delivery risks and bottlenecks, embedding procurement and productivity initiatives and further improving co-ordination on utilities, land availability and public engagement to support timely delivery of critical infrastructure.”
“A key achievement in the first quarter has been the publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. Core regulatory foundations have also been put in place through the establishment of the infrastructure regulatory simplification unit; the issuance of cross-Government circulars on better regulation and reaction to legal precedent; and strengthened engagement with regulators and EU institutions to support legislative simplification. Progress has also been made on delivery and co-ordination with the completion of the national development plan review and sectoral investment plans; revised infrastructure guidelines approved and issued; enhanced National Development Finance Agency support arrangements for sponsors; and improved focus on priority projects.”
“As Minister, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. The programme for Government set out clear prioritisation for the national development plan review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years for strategic infrastructure. Last year, my Department worked on the identification of barriers to infrastructure delivery. In December, it published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, aimed at removing those barriers. This is critical to allow the Government to meet the increased supply of homes and support competitiveness. The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four pillars, each addressing a key area of reform.”
“That is what I will be grounded in and the basis on which I will make decisions. We have a framework in place. I will be accountable to the House and transparent about how we come to particular decisions.”
“We have set out a framework on the factors the Minister can consider in the context of designating projects. Anchoring decisions around those are important. I assure the Deputy and anyone in this House that any decision I make on designation will be fully in the public and national interest, yielding overall delivery. I will be accountable to the House in that regard. Prioritisation always creates winners and losers in any scenario, whether it is capital projects or in a budgetary context. Trade-offs happen. For example, we have referenced programmes or projects in the energy sector. We have a programme of investment with ESB Networks and EirGrid that must be carried out. It is fairly clear that it will be a necessary national programme. It is nationwide anyway. There are other well-documented projects that are critical for Ireland.”
“I am very much anchored to many of the strategically important sectors that are critical to Ireland’s future, such as the energy, water, transport sectors. All of those sectors are involved in building more homes and contribute to the wider social and economic development of our country. I take that national responsibility carefully, and it is grounded in how we make decisions around this. I hope, as an Oireachtas, we all get on board with that because, ultimately, if we bog it down with too many projects, the upside of this legislation gets undermined.”
“We have a framework set out in the legislation detailing the factors the Minister in my position will consider when designating particular projects. Obviously, I will be accountable to the House as to why a particular project is picked and prioritised. I always respect my duties to the House in that regard. I can already see the political risk in how this will be managed in the House where Deputies will question why certain projects are not being prioritised over other projects. If this is how the Bill is used, it will undermine infrastructure delivery. The key element is that we have a limited number of strategically important projects we can seek to advance. If it becomes too big and if everything is prioritised, nothing will be prioritised.”
“Section 6 of the Bill provides that I may give directions to a particular body to improve performance anchored in its duties and functions. Again, that is to ensure it is on board with broader infrastructure delivery. Many of these critical projects are known. Many are in the national development plan or relate to a State body. There is no mystery about which projects will be involved. Within that, we will have to prioritise to ensure that the projects that are of critical importance receive prioritisation in the infrastructure system. They then need to be fast-tracked through existing approval processes. Separately, we are working on emergency powers to try to skip stages but that will have a much higher legal threshold because it would involve skipping potential stages. That is not in this particular piece of legislation.”
“In terms of the safeguards, I will make a recommendation to the Government that a designation order may be made in respect of a project or programme. The decision as to whether to designate the project rests with the Government. Where the Government decides to exercise the order, it must be laid before Dáil Éireann and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by Dáil Éireann within the next 21 days on which Dáil Éireann has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled. This ensures that the power to designate projects or programmes ultimately rests with the Oireachtas. In addition, under section 5, I may request a relevant body to provide certain information. That is set out in terms of strengthening project performance across the board.”
“I thank the Deputy. As I said, the Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government’s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast-track a number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in the action published last December. The Bill has been drafted and introduced on a priority basis to respond to this need. Its primary aim is to allow the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function to prioritise them within their approval processes. This will avoid delays, reduce timelines, parallel processes, and introduce a duty to co-operate across the board.”
“It is all about improved speed. We seek to apply the reforms on a Gantt chart so that we can try to truncate the project timelines that exist in transport, energy and water infrastructure and other areas to yield better delivery. The infrastructure guidelines were an initial reform. Other extensive work is ongoing in the Department and by the unit on changing the process and practice within regulators, which will make a significant difference in improving delivery. We will be able to set them out in the coming weeks.”
“One reform that has already happened is that of the infrastructure guidelines. We have removed the need, in many instances, for the external assurance process, which saves at least 20 weeks. We have cut the decision gates from three to two. A lot of process-related work goes into an additional decision gate where a matter is brought to Government. That process has been removed, which saves multiple weeks. The update from the joint utilities and transport clearing house is that there are about ten significant critical regulatory barriers across the utilities and infrastructure sector. The team in my Department is working to remove them. We have a specific team doing specific work on removing barriers across the infrastructure system. It is also conducting a wider review of the regulatory landscape in our country.”
“All agencies and bodies involved in infrastructure need to reduce timelines because they are, in many instances, resulting in slowing delivery across the board. We have had good, constructive and productive discussions with bodies and reforms are advancing. I can go into more detail on the specifics.”
“Some of the principles of better regulation are necessity, effectiveness, proportionality, coherence, efficiency, being time-bound, transparency and accountability. The reforms and principles outlined in the circular will drive better co-ordination between bodies. We seek to simplify many of the overlapping and unduly complex regulatory frameworks. The unit will use these principles to drive reforms across many of the bodies involved in regulation for critical infrastructure to shorten timelines and simplify processes to ensure we better deliver across the infrastructure system. The circular is a direction and agreement we brought to Government. Some agencies, which I will not name, have come before the infrastructure task force and are advancing some of the regulatory reforms, reducing timelines and being part of the solution.”
“It will focus on simplifying and improving the complex regulatory processes across critical infrastructure sectors, namely, housing, energy, transport and water infrastructure. Progress on this has commenced at pace and a new circular issued on 26 March. It seeks to embed the principles for better regulation of critical infrastructure. It includes a series of regulatory process reforms that must be implemented by public sector bodies with statutory, regulatory, operational or delivery responsibilities for critical infrastructure. It outlines eight principles for better regulation that public sector bodies are required to implement in their own regulatory processes. These are necessity, effectiveness and proportionality. I will detail them more in a moment.”
“However, it also implies a cost and quicker and more simplified regulation can help balance this cost with the benefits. The overarching objective of pillar 2 reforms is to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, thereby minimising time and cost impacts on infrastructure delivery and speeding it up. The establishment of the infrastructure regulatory simplification unit, as I announced in February, marked the commencement of action 9 of the report. The new unit is conducting a risk-based review of the current regulatory landscape, analysing and mapping existing processes and engaging with the bodies involved in consenting, permitting and licensing to identify and remove bottlenecks. The unit will also seek to identify opportunities to enhance co-operation and streamline processes for more effective delivery of the national development plan.”
“On 3 December 2025, the Government published the accelerating infrastructure action plan. The report sets out a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State and includes 30 actions across four key areas. The second pillar is regulatory reform and simplification. This means identifying where regulation leads to excessive process rather than improved outcomes. It also means examining the structure of our regulatory environment, the practices applied by regulatory bodies and how they communicate with one another and applicants. It is important to note that regulation also brings important benefits. It protects consumers and society as a whole through the application of safeguards, such as environmental protection.”
“That is something that all of us need to address in the context of reform. Section 15 brings that risk in terms of overall delivery. On the Deputy's point, I get frustrated with anybody taking a judicial review on any project we want to deliver. The Deputy and I share the same views around ensuring DART+ West and many other public transport projects can advance.”
“I just gave last week's example because it happened to refer to section 15 and how it related to an infrastructure project that we wanted to deliver as a Government. I have read the judgment, and it sets out a particular test relating to individual projects, which present risks. Public bodies should and do climate assess projects. That is set out in the infrastructure guidelines. We need ensure that continues and there is no change to that in the context of publicly funded projects. We should allow public bodies to do that and adhere to the infrastructure guidelines. They already set that out in a transparent way and do it properly. At the end of all that and when a particular project has received permission, we should not present a legal risk to that project being delayed for two or three years.”
“I am against all judicial reviews whether it is environmentalists, landowners or anybody in the economy. When a decision is made by An Coimisiún Pleanála, we need to allow it to be built and respected. We have seen the enormous deference to allowing this system and industry of judicial reviews to build up. It is undermining delivery systems right across the board. I am against landowners taking judicial reviews, I am against developers taking judicial reviews, I am against anybody taking judicial reviews, but I respect the statutory process and appeals systems that we have. What we are trying to do is remove the risk of a particular legal avenue that is there. That is what I am saying. I have a similar view on anybody who wants to take a judicial review.”
“We want to derisk appeals that are taking through judicial reviews. This is one element of it. Others relate to the work that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is doing and the work that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is doing around environmental legal fees as well. The judgment that was set out and the test that is given around that judgment presents risk and that is why are seeking to disapply section 15.”
“To take the most recent example, last week we had a permission validly given by An Coimisiún Pleanála relating to the ring road in Galway and we already have a particular NGO saying it is considering a case under section 15 for that particular infrastructure project. It has already gone through all of the statutory processes and has already gone to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The growth, the deference and the risk of all of these projects ending up in the courts bring a risk to infrastructure delivery. There is a whole other extensive area of reforms that we are doing and we are trying to make it more efficient, but a lot of what we are trying to do here relates to building a low-carbon economy in terms of our grid, which has to be developed, and many of our transport projects, which are actually in public transport.”
“I have read judgments that relate to section 15 and some of them do have a chilling effect on infrastructure delivery. I am not going to set out the judgment here - I do not have it in front of me - but I have concern with how the interpretation of section 15 as it relates to the infrastructure system presents a risk in overall delivery. There have been a number of judgments relating to section 15 that present risks, and I need to be clear about that. The deference to creating a legal avenue and risk to infrastructure delivery relating to section 15 has to be addressed in the context of delivery.”
“That is part of the Government's wider work to transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich and sustainable climate-neutral economy by 2050. All that will change in practical terms is the ability to challenge decisions of public bodies as they relate to how they have considered the impact of an individual project or programme against that particular section of legislation.”
“Designated projects or programmes will still have all relevant climate considerations built into their development. Every Exchequer-funded project, for example, is already required to measure and price its greenhouse gas emissions under the infrastructure guidelines. Under the Bill as drafted, climate and environmental obligations will still fully apply. That is important to state because that is not being reflected in what the Deputy has said so far. Disapplication of section 15 simply removes an unnecessary layer that risks driving judicial reviews, and we need to remove all risks around judicial reviews in the legislative framework when it comes to infrastructure delivery. Ireland will still be bound by climate and renewable energy targets.”
“In practical terms, this means that relevant bodies will be required to prioritise, avoid delay, reduce timelines, parallel processes and co-operate to fast-track designated infrastructure. I have proposed to disapply section 15 of the climate Act because of the risk of delays that this section gives rise to. The provisions in section 15 of the Act have opened up a new channel for the judicial review of the decisions of public bodies. The net effect is that it could slow the pace of infrastructural development. Delays to infrastructure roll-out are a key reason we are not reaching much of our climate and renewable energy targets. The report by Mario Draghi on EU competitiveness, for example, specifically identified Ireland as having the slowest approval process across the EU for renewable electricity.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is a central pillar of the Government’s broader infrastructure acceleration agenda. The need for a Bill to fast track a limited number of strategically important projects through approval processes was identified in a report and action plan published last December. The Bill has been drafted and introduced on a priority basis. Its primary aim is to allow the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes.”
“I know she has worked extensively to ensure the €795 million allocated across the next five years yields that improved delivery of childcare across communities and across the country.”
“I absolutely agree. That is central to what we are doing in reforming infrastructure delivery. We are aiming to cut out as much process as possible and to put delivery at the centre. That is why 34 of the 35 actions set out for implementation in the first quarter as part of our infrastructure reforms have been delivered. The other is to be delivered imminently. It is the same in the second quarter. We are working every day to drive improved delivery, to reduce process, to rebalance regulation and to ensure that delivery is at the centre of everything we do in every area of social and economic infrastructure. That will yield improved delivery in childcare and in wider areas across the economy. I will work with the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure her sectoral investment plan in the Department of children is advanced quickly.”
“We need to co-ordinate capital investment from the Department of children for separate community childcare facilities and to work with schools to utilise existing facilities. That co-ordination is ongoing. I share the Deputy's objective of doing more. That is why the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, received a significant allocation under the national development plan.”
“I know about the significant work undertaken by that Government. Even in more difficult economic times, the then Minister of State, Barry Andrews, introduced an important initiative on the affordability of childcare, which has been built on in recent years. That was a central part of the work undertaken with the Minister, Deputy Foley, as part of the revised national development plan. The €750 million allocated to the Department of children is aimed at enabling the Minister to do more in the context of capital investment in childcare. There is a need to work with childcare and education settings. In light of the demographic shift that is happening in Ireland in the medium to long term, there is an important opportunity to use our school facilities. That is happening in many communities.”
“NSO 10 is reflected in the capital investment tracker, which provides a comprehensive update of the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. It sets out the county-specific basis, specifically for investments in schools and health facilities relating to NSO 10. It is not only about what we allocate, but also about what we deliver and how quickly we can deliver it. That is why I am putting as much focus on reforming how we deliver infrastructure as I am on what to allocate to where.”
“NSO 10, as the Deputy mentioned, refers to quality childcare, education and health services. The Government has allocated over €7.55 billion to education projects over the next number of years, with €795 million to the Department of children and €9.25 billion to the Department of Health over the next five years. This will be hugely important to build the social infrastructure the Deputy mentioned, which is so important to communities across our country. We have set out the detail around that in the context of the health service, building out many of the education projects, particularly in the special education area, and also the Department of children, which the Minister, Deputy Foley, is advancing.”
“In the 2021 review of the national development plan, the Government originally committed to €165 billion of investment out to 2030. Subsequently, in March 2024, it agreed to an additional €2.25 billion out to 2026. The revised development plan sets out over €275 billion of public capital investment out to 2035, the largest and most significant capital injection into the economy in the history of the State. Following the agreement in July 2025, gross capital expenditure ceilings have now been set out. While we have prioritised investment towards critical growth-enabling sectors of housing, energy, water and transport, all Departments have prepared sectoral plans for the five years out to 2030. They have set out detail around projects to be progressed.”
“When that infrastructure gap starts to close, it should yield further opportunities across the Deputy's region. I am confident that will occur.”
“The critical foundation of employment growth, house construction and industrial development is what we have sought to prioritise in the national development plan in terms of building out our energy system - where there will be opportunities for the midlands - ensuring that transport connectivity is enhanced, which is reflected in the national development plan, and that water and wastewater infrastructure is also advanced. These are the key enablers of wider social and economic development in the context of the infrastructure deficit we have in our economy. I am confident that with what has been set aside in the national development plan, we will see increased house construction in the Deputy's part of the midlands and also upside benefits in terms of job creation by SMEs and FDI companies.”