Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will start with amendments Nos. 599 and 600, tabled by Deputies Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh, if that is acceptable. The amendments propose that in addition to having regard to the protected status of a protected structure or the fact that it is proposed to add a structure to the record of protected structures for proposed development that relates to a protected structure or a proposed protected structure, the authorities should also have regard to these issues for proposed development that relates to a protected structure or proposed development or its integrity in the surrounding context.

Amendment No. 55 seeks to add similar text to section 9. The purpose of these provisions, as set out in the Bill, is to maintain the protected status of the building. While its setting would be generally taken into account, it should be not a restriction. For example, a development could be within the grounds of a protected structure. We discussed some of these issues just before the break. The merits of balancing the appropriateness of the scale and format of development while maintaining the protected nature of the structure would have to be taken on a case-by-case basis. Particularly in urban areas, there is the need to recognise that the surrounding context may evolve, as we discussed before the break, and change to meet present and future sustainable development needs. For these reasons, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 55, 599 and 600.