John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their time. I agree with the RIAI that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a system that supports the needs and ambitions of the Irish people. As was mentioned by Ms Uí Bhroin, when the previous Act of 2000 was implemented, it was modern. In this Bill, we are trying to learn from the previous two decades. That Act has been amended so often at this stage that there is a lack of coherence to certain elements of it. It is positive that we are bringing forward this new Bill. It is important for understanding the process to know that it is the draft Bill that is before us and the engagement today and on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the past few weeks is the opportunity for engagement with sectors such as those the witnesses work in and for them to feed into the Bill.

Nobody in this room and nobody in the Department would say the draft Bill that is in the public domain is the exact version that will be brought to the Dáil and Seanad prior to the summer recess. We are trying to get feedback from all sectors to improve on what is there. The draft Bill is a good start and we are seeking to improve upon it.

I have two questions for the witnesses. Ms Meghen said in her opening statement that the RIAI supported the proposals to strengthen the legal status of the ministerial guidelines. I note what the IEN representatives said in this regard. There appears to be a conflict between the positions of the two bodies on this point. Will the witnesses elaborate on that? The second question then is, if the Minister does not have the ability to bring coherence to national planning policy, who should have that ability? I ask one of the IEN representatives to answer the second question. A representative of the RIAI might respond to the first.