Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their comments. Regarding the conditions attaching to the pre-application stage for a MAC, we set a clear process for public engagement, which will make a big difference. That is an innovative direction we are taking.

Amendment No. 247 seeks to increase the period during which members of the public may inspect a copy of the EIA report for not less than 30 days to not less than 56 days. The Deputies are proposing what we feel is an excessive timeline for the submission period on the documents referred to which are, in effect, a revision of the existing documents to account for any changes in measurable impacts arising from a proposed alteration to an already consented development. The timelines set out here are reflective of the requirements of Article 6 of the EIA directive, as added to in 2014. The suggestion here is that the Bill potentially would be inconsistent with that directive. What is being proposed may lead to a full rerun of the application process rather than an amendment procedure. Moreover, this would render the timeline inconsistent with the SID procedures and result in a situation where an application that incorporates part of the maritime site would have a different timeline than one wholly on land, something which we cannot accept.

Amendment No. 248 seeks to provide that a copy of the application and any further or additional information submitted to the application subsequently will be available on the application website and on the website of the board. We feel this provision is not necessary having regard to my proposed amendment to Schedule 12 to ensure the applicability of section 146 to applications to the board under section 297. This is similar to the earlier amendment No. 236.