Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Ó Broin's point on section 21(2)(i), we will look at it and come back on Report Stage to see if we can do something to broaden that.

On the second point around section 215 and the transboundary convention, section 21(3) states, “The National Planning Framework shall be subject to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive”. Under the Espoo convention we are required automatically to consult with non-EU countries. That automatically kicks in as part of that process. The process is there.

On the more general point about section 21(2)(i), rather than going over and back, I will say that we will look at it for Report Stage in terms of broadening the type of consultations, etc. Deputy Ó Broin will be a lot more familiar with the bodies in the North than I am but in any jurisdiction it is the role of the government in the jurisdiction to consult with its citizens on various aspects. Then we consult, as a country, with them. They will consult with their own people, with the citizens and people who are living in their jurisdiction. We will come back on section 21(2)(i).

On the second point, we feel that section 21(3) covers that in terms of process because the national plan will be subject to this environmental assessment directive. As part of that the Espoo Convention, we have to consult with transboundary countries that are outside the EU. That is automatic. We have to do it anyway. It is a statutory obligation. We feel that covers the point that Deputy O’Callaghan is making.