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

This is to make an insertion in page 63 between lines 4 and 5. There is wording relating to Northern Ireland which reads "any Department or body in Northern Ireland having responsibility for regional development". However, as Deputy Ó Broin has said, transboundary development not necessarily connected with Northern Ireland could have impacts and this needs to be covered. We spoke to the Minister yesterday, who made a point about section 21(3), which reads "The National Planning Framework shall be subject to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive". Article 7 of the SEA directive is about transboundary consultations. Article 7(1) states that:

Where a Member State considers that the implementation of a plan or programme being prepared in relation to its territory is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State, or where a Member State likely to be significantly affected so requests, the Member State in whose territory the plan or programme is being prepared shall, before its adoption or submission to the legislative procedure, forward a copy of the draft plan or programme and the relevant environmental report to the other Member State.

Before Brexit, the UK would have been incorporated in that. Most likely with transboundary issues, if it is not covered by the existing wording regarding Northern Ireland, we are going to be looking at Wales or possibly England, which are not explicitly covered by the directive because they are outside the European Union. I think the wording we propose makes sense. Will the Minister of State respond?