An Taisce has welcomed the Planning and Development Bill introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, much of which, it claims, represents stated An Taisce policy.
It describes the Bill as "imaginative" and calls on Mr Dempsey to hold firm in the face of pressure from financially vested interests.
But it has criticised the proposed imposition of a fee when lodging an objection.
Such a fee would discourage public participation and prevent many of those most vulnerable to poor planning from making submissions on proposed developments which would adversely affect them, it claims.
It also criticises the necessity of lodging an objection before an appeal may be taken and points to a situation where a scheme might not initially affect a citizen until part of the layout was changed.
The environment group, however, welcomes proposed development contribution levies for recreational and community facilities as well as infrastructure such as sewerage.
It welcomes proposals for social and affordable housing which will lead to mixed communities and help provide a framework to alleviate a major social and economic problem.
An Taisce has welcomed the provisions in the Bill for mandatory enforcement of planning laws by local authorities and new provisions for the protection of the architectural heritage.
It welcomes agricultural exemption to allow for the introduction of planning control in the case of initial afforestation and peat extraction.
It welcomes, too, the provisions allowing local authorities and An Bord Pleanala to consider environmental issues as well as planning issues when adjudicating developments requiring an integrated pollution control licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.