Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have met farming bodies on this. We have an active consultation process under way for my Department to prepare a high-level guidance document for planning authorities on the relationship between physical planning and river basin management planning for the purpose of the development of river basin management plans under the water framework directive. Given the integration of the requirements of the water framework directive at a more fundamental level in the planning Act, it is unnecessary at this time to make this amendment, and it would also be premature pending the completion of my Department's work on the guidance document I have referred to, in addition to receiving feedback and guidance on this area from the EU Commission following a recent ECJ judgment in this connection, referred to as the Weser case.

I know where the Deputy is coming from. We may specifically mention the water framework directive in the legislation. We spoke about this earlier. It will be signalled very strongly that it needs to be a factor. One could make a similar case for introducing amendments related to other directives so, if we find a way of mentioning the water framework directive, as I suggested, taking into account what I have just outlined, it would cover what the Deputy is trying to achieve.