David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is obviously extraordinarily technical and quite complicated, as the Minister of State has just outlined. I will mention a few things. The phrase "as soon as is practicable" is mentioned more than once in the amendments. Has any consideration been given to putting in a more definitive timeline, perhaps within two, three or six months, because that term is very subjective and could mean anything? This is extremely serious for companies, businesses, platforms and so forth. Will the Minister of State give us an indication of the timeline from initial engagement to the taking of a final decision? How long will that take? Is there any merit in putting in a more definitive timescale?

Some other State agencies seem to be able to take as long as they want and delay matters continually. This is not good enough. Perhaps this is an opportunity to look – maybe not right this second, but between now and Report Stage – to see whether there is any way of applying an end date to the various steps and procedures. It would be useful if, before Report Stage, we got a flow chart outlining in graphic form exactly what happened from beginning to end. How the Minister of State has outlined it is extraordinarily complicated and difficult to follow.