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

I have some similar amendments, although they appear to be in another grouping, so I will make a brief comment in support of Deputy O'Callaghan's amendment. As the Minister of State will be aware, we have a procedure whereby any changes to exempted development regulations come to this committee by way of a motion of the Oireachtas. There is sometimes a good discussion at the committee with useful recommendations for change, and when the committee has then dispensed with the matter, a motion goes back to the Oireachtas. That allows, first, for some engagement with elected members. It also allows for some public and media scrutiny, which is always a good thing when we are changing planning laws. If, as the Minister of State says, the intention of the use of policy statements is to achieve greater consistency, that obviously means it is going in some way to remove, diminish or limit the power of elected members of local authorities to take different views on issues on which central government wants there to be a consistent approach.