Planning & Development: Challenges & Change

27 Sep 2024

The Centre for Law & the Environment at UCC School of Law was delighted to collaborate with the Southern Law Association to host a CPD event for practitioners on 26 September 2024.  The event examined the changes to planning law envisaged by the Planning and Development Bill 2023 and also considered a range of practical issues relating to planning and development. 

The event was chaired expertly by Ms Justice Marie Baker, a former Judge of the Supreme Court and an Adjunct Professor at UCC School of Law.

The keynote address was delivered by Tom Flynn SC who provided an excellent overview of the key aspects of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 and offered rich insights on the likely practical implications of the changes proposed.   

Tom’s keynote was followed by a lively panel discussion offering a range of perspectives on planning law and practice.  The panel members were: Joe Noonan, Noonan Linehan Carroll Coffey; Patricia O’Brien, BHK Solicitors; and Stephen McDevitt and Julia Dineen, Cork County Council Law Department.

Over 120 practitioners were in attendance for the event.  The timing could not have been better with the Planning and Development Bill 2023 having competed final stage in Seanad Éireann on 25 September.  The Bill as amended by the Seanad now returns to Dáil Éireann.

The idea for this event originated with the UCC School of Law Liaison Committee.  The School of Law would like to thank the Southern Law Association for their invaluable support and for taking the initiative in organising this event.  Particular thanks are due to Juli Rea whose energy and leadership ensured that the event was a great success.