Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the draft Bill was published, the Government said that what is proposed will lead to an improved planning regime and provide greater clarity, consistency and certainty. It also said it would make the planning system more coherent and user-friendly. I realise that it is only a draft Bill and that our guests are only considering it; however, in the last four sessions we have had, with planning professionals, local government management, elected members, architects, environmental NGOs and those present, I have not been hearing that there is a great deal of clarity, consistency and certainty. At this stage, are the witnesses concerned that there are more questions to be answered than have been answered by the text in front of them? I am asking this not to try to get them to give a political answer but because all of us accept this is once-in-a-generation legislation that will profoundly impact many people, not just legal and planning professionals but also citizens and communities. It will determine whether we can meet energy-efficiency requirements, housing needs and employment opportunities, for example. The legislation has enormous scope. If legal professionals are concerned that there is not necessarily the clarity, consistency or certainty that the draft Bill is meant to achieve, it is important that we take a little more time to consider it. I am inviting the witnesses to respond to the Government's claims, but from a legal point of view rather than a policy or political point of view.