Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Kelly and Mr. Lemass for their briefings. I have a brief question on the proposed amendment concerning the mandatory holding of public meetings during the development and planning process. As the witnesses have noted, in-person public consultations will be possible again when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Does the wording of this amendment allow local authorities to choose between holding public meetings and continuing with the online option, thereby potentially ending in-person public consultations if a council executive wishes to do so?

While many of us have become familiar with online meetings some may not have, so this could preclude them from the process.