Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot accept the amendments proposed by Deputies Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh to my amendment No. 791. Amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 791 removes the end date for the suspension of time. It is not workable that a suspension of time would not have a clear end date. That would introduce uncertainty as to when the period ends.

Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 to amendment No. 791 change the period in which a person must notify the planning authority of a JR commencing and the period in which the planning authority must notify interested parties of certain matters from "such a period as may be prescribed" to "within one day". A one-day period is not practical or workable. It is intended that the period to be prescribed would be short but it needs to be such as to allow arrangements to be put in place. I understand why members want it to be short, but one day is unworkable.

Amendment No. 4 to amendment No. 791 provides that, as well as notifying a person interested in the maritime site of JR proceedings, the planning authority should also notify any person who made a submission on the original application. Again, this is not practical or necessary. A person who made a submission will not be impacted by the suspension of time. Their submission is still there. The planning register will be updated to include this information and it is considered that this is appropriate.

Amendment No. 5 to amendment No. 791 is not required as it is already covered by subsection (4), and the regulations under this subsection will provide further clarity and information on it.