A Waterford Green Party TD has said planning decisions have to be separate from decisions made by the government.
Marc Ó Cathasaigh was responding to the High Court's decision that has cleared the path for the new multi-million euro cheese factory at Belview Port.
An Taisce's application for a judicial review of the planning permission has been dismissed on Friday.
Speaking to Damien Tiernan on Déise Today, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said politicians need to keep away from planning decisions.
"I'm elected as a legislator and a policymaker - not as a planner. I think these things need to be kept separate.
"We had a long time where planning decisions were made on a golf course and we suffered as a result - there's a planning system in place for a very good reason," Ó Cathasaigh said.
A Taisce received criticism from a number of public representatives prior to the decision being made and Marc Ó Cathasaigh feels some of it was undue.
"In defence of An Taisce they shipped a lot of criticism over their decision to have a High Court challenge and they're the only independent environmental NGO that is a prescribed statutory consultee on planning and environmental matters.
"This is their job, this is part of their role, so if they see a problem from an environmental or a heritage point of view in a planning permission it is their duty to seek recourse to the courts," he told Déise Today.
You can listen back to today's interview with Marc Ó Cathasaigh in Part Two of Déise Today here:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/wlrfm/deise-today-monday-5th-july-part-2
While you can listen back to Part One that featured popular Greenway bike rental supplier Donal Jacob who has relocated to South Tipperary after he was forced to cease operations at the WIT Arena here:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/wlrfm/deise-today-monday-5th-july-part-1
