Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

That would be helpful.

When I was drafting amendment No. 62, an alarm bell rang in my head regarding what a significant impact on the environment is and how that would be measured. I think the Minister also raised that point in response to Deputy O'Callaghan. We cannot have cases where we are aware of ongoing impacts to the environment but where the development does not meet the threshold for environmental impact assessment or any threshold at all. I do not know what the wording should be. I am going to withdraw the amendment because the wording is not enforceable as it is - I am being honest about that – but I am concerned there could be an unauthorised development that is continually impacting, to some extent, on the environment. It might not be a tourist site or a natural heritage area, but still the development could claim an exemption. I do not know how we can address it where there is ongoing environmental damage, but I do not think the wording in the amendment is enforceable, so I will withdraw it.