Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am just looking for some clarity on the point Deputy O'Callaghan raised. Based on what he read out, according to section 20C of the 2000 Act, a draft is presented to the Oireachtas. A draft will have had a considerable amount of review work put into it. It is a partially completed document whereas what we are now proposing is that the preparation of all of that supporting documentation would involve the Oireachtas and other Members beforehand. I can see how this is a slight improvement in that, under the 2000 Act, a draft is presented and the Oireachtas has no input into that draft whereas, under this Bill, the Oireachtas and all of those agencies will have input into the preparation of the national planning framework. We are losing our focus on the purpose of the amendments, which is to propose that the Houses vote on the finalised document.