Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt that we need to get this proposed legislation right. However, having another session with other witnesses does not mean that we would necessarily get it any more right. The contributions we have had today have been substantial. Deputy Ó Broin suggested having a meeting on Friday. Another week would then be required for the pre-legislative scrutiny report to be compiled. We also generally receive written submissions as part of that process and that element also delays the compilation of reports. We will then be in the midst of our examination of the Marine Area Planning Bill 2021.

What Deputy Ó Broin is suggesting, therefore, will not put the pre-legislative scrutiny of this proposed legislation back by a week but by weeks and possibly by a month or six weeks. My role as Chair is to ensure that we get through legislation as quickly as possible. I said at the outset that we would have this meeting and then we would proceed with the pre-legislative scrutiny process. If members wish, they could contact outside organisations to seek written submissions on this matter. The information in those submissions would not be for inclusion in this pre-legislative scrutiny report, but for possible use during the amendment stage, if they wish.