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

Amendment No. 148 relates to Section 19(3)(d), which lists the environmental, archaeological and heritage considerations of the NPF.

The list is kind of sparse; it speaks of landscape ecology, biodiversity, archaeology, architecture and natural heritage. Our amendment proposes to expand that to add the following: the conservation of the environment and its amenities, as the Minister has already outlined, but to include landscape, landscape features, including hedgerows, ecology, biodiversity, water resources, archaeological, historical, architectural and natural heritage. It would also propose to add the establishment of metrics and criteria for evaluating these elements of the environment and monitoring them and their effects within the life of the plan. This is trying to strengthen this section, which is obviously important for the function of the national planning framework, in terms of what is listed as well as how we assess monitor, account for, and evaluate those particular aspects. I am sure that the Minister will understand the spirit of it, but I hope he will be in a position to support the text of it as well.