The Construction Industry Federation has called for streamlining of the judicial review and ‘overly prescriptive’ planning process to fast-track vital infrastructure at its annual conference (Tuesday 30 September).

Addressing the Federation’s national conference, Hubert Fitzpatrick , retiring Director General of the Construction Industry Federation, called for more effective and efficient use of regulatory requirements for planning and delivery of strategic infrastructure critical to support housing and population growth.

“The government should designate key critical public infrastructure projects, which are considered an absolute necessity to support and maintain housing and economic growth for Ireland, which has the fastest growing population in Europe.

“The forward planning process for such infrastructural projects is overly prescriptive, and the judicial review process available for challenging these critical projects must be streamlined so that unacceptable delays are minimised. Infrastructure referred to includes water, wastewater, transport and energy projects, which are crucial to support housing targets.

“The planning process for such projects should be enabling and facilitative rather than the restrictive approach often perceived by supporters of such key projects, which the economy is so dependent upon.

“The ‘public good’, to be determined by government, should be the overriding principle to enable these infrastructural projects to come to fruition.”

Hubert Fitzpatrick, who is retiring today as Director General of the Construction Industry Federation after 22 years said: “The construction industry has the capacity to deliver the key infrastructural projects that the economy is dependent upon. We’re seeing strong growth among Irish construction companies in overseas markets where the available pipeline of works is much more transparent and reliable.”

Hubert congratulated his successor Andrew Brownlee on his appointment as Chief Executive with effect from 1 October 2025. He thanked Construction Industry Federation members, stakeholders in government departments and agencies for their support over the years, and wished the Federation well in representing members and addressing the many challenges facing the construction sector into the future.

The Construction Industry Federation marks its 90 anniversary this year, having been founded in May 1935. The conference is titled: CIF at 90: Building a competitive Ireland for people, prosperity and progress.

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