Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We have asked for the rationale a few times. The Minister of State has now given it. The rationale is to bring in the Oireachtas at an earlier stage. However, section 20C of the 2000 Act states:

The Government shall submit the draft of the revised or new National Planning Framework, together with the Environmental Report and Appropriate Assessment Report for the approval of each House of the Oireachtas before it is published.

The draft must be submitted before it is published. That is much earlier than what is proposed in section 21(4) of this Bill.