Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As things stand, gaps in policy and timing are being exploited, resulting in judicial review. There needs to be clear alignment from the national to the regional to the local. National policy should relate only to matters that require national consistency. We all agree on the need for a plan-led system. It has to be commensurate to the plan-making level.

The explanatory memorandum on section 34 states the section provides that the office can make a recommendation to the Minister that a draft direction under section 37 should be issued where it is not satisfied that steps proposed by the regional assembly are sufficient to remove material inconsistency. The regional assembly can give consideration to whether there is material inconsistency and identify how it intends to amend its regional spatial and economic strategy to remove the material inconsistency concerned. All of this is about ensuring consistency of application throughout the process. That is critical.

I cannot remember the second question Deputy O'Callaghan asked.