Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive,208 and 209 relate to the national planning statements. I still believe that in this primary legislation - because that is what it is going to be - there needs to be clear statements at every level on what the role of planning is. It needs to be as much as it would for all of the other issues listed in that planning statement. I am still of the view that the amendments, as presented, should be inserted in the relevant parts of the Bill, unless there is something with the language which cuts across but that has not been said. It seems that the viewpoint is that these are superfluous and that the intent of these amendments would be captured in the priority areas or that they are already mentioned elsewhere in some other legislation. However, this will be the primary planning legislation. The role should be in the primary planning legislation, especially given that in some ways the Minister is starting from scratch and is presenting it as a bible, as I said before. It is presented as what planners will look at, what they will take and what they will tick-box, based on what they have to take into account. The Irish language and the Gaeltacht area, in particular, should form a very distinct and clear point of principle, in some ways, at the various levels. At this level, it is the statement itself.

My other two amendments, Nos. 641 and 642, address the planning application process. Thankfully, Conradh na Gaeilge has been good enough to provide us with a draft formula of words with which we have tried to ensure that the planning application process is fully accessible.

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 sets out that all State bodies should correspond in this way. That has not been the case. There are difficulties. Again, due to their frustration with the system, Gaeilgeoirí and Irish-language organisations are trying to repeat what might be said in other legislation so they do not end up having to go to court to get a reminder for those involved in the planning process that they must allow for the same access for Irish communications as they do for English communications. This is the intent of these amendments.