Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister answered my point about compliance with the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, directive by saying that section 21(3) states that the national planning framework shall be subject to the directive and the regulations but Article 6 (3) of the SEA directive which deals with consultation specifically says that "Member States shall designate the authorities to be consulted which, by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities, are likely to be concerned by the environmental effects of implementing plans and programmes.". How is that covered under the list in section 21(2)? Would prescribed bodies not assist in that? Why are prescribed bodies omitted from the list? Is it the Minister's view that the Environmental Protection Agency, for example, in section 21(2)(f) is the extent of what is needed to cover Article 6(3) of the SEA directive? That is not sufficient but if that is his view, he might state that clearly.