Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the concerns of people and I want to get the Bill enacted as soon as possible so the clock can start ticking. I mean that and this is why I have prioritised it in government. I want to get it done before the recess and as quickly as possible. I want to drive it on. Despite all the discussion and differences between us, there are many good elements in the Bill and I hope people appreciate that. It is unique.

A timeframe of 24 months is specified to allow sufficient time to conduct a strategic environmental assessment and an appropriate assessment for a draft plan, as mandated under EU directives. As this is the first time, there must also be sufficient time for public consultation. This is the maximum time period and I hope the report could be done before two years pass. I do not want to set this in such a way that this cannot happen.

It is unrealistic to say the process can be done in six months. We might have been having a different argument if the Deputy had specified 12 or 18 months. Public consultation alone will take a long time and we must do that; we should do it anyway as it is the right way to proceed. There is a level of detail involved in this. We have only had a discussion on a couple of small sections but we could have talked about them forever. For example, I could discuss different types of vehicles, standards, emissions and the electric car sector, for which I have an affinity. We could speak for a long time on such individual issues. A six-month timeframe is not realistic and, although some might say 24 months is excessive, it is the maximum time allowed. I need to set a realistic limit.