The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020 passed the first stage in the Dáil on 24 March 2020. Section 9 of the Bill inserts a new Section 251A in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
In effect, it is proposed to suspend time limits in specified legislation for the period of the Covid-19 emergency. As we do not know how long that emergency will last, the Bill has far-reaching implications for developers and individuals seeking permissions.
The Bill proposes to suspend any ‘appropriate period’, specified period or other time limit referred to in the following legislation: