Draft exempted development regulations referred to Joint Oireachtas Committee
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Seanad Éireann has referred the draft Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 3) Regulations 2026 to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Seanad Éireann has agreed to refer the draft Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 3) Regulations 2026 to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
On 14 July 2026, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin proposed a motion to discharge the Seanad's previous Order of 9 July 2026 regarding the draft approval of the regulations. Under the newly approved motion, the draft regulations, which were formally laid before Seanad Éireann on 14 July 2026, were referred to the Joint Committee under Standing Order 79(2)(b).
The motion required the Joint Committee to review the draft proposal and return a message to the Seanad no later than 15 July 2026, in accordance with Standing Order 84 and Standing Order 86(2). This referral forms part of the established legislative process, which requires Joint Committee consideration of draft planning exemptions before they can be formally ratified by the houses of the Oireachtas.