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

It is an important amendment. Learning comes from the process of getting feedback on submissions. People who engage in a public consultation process need to see what consideration has been given. If it has not been accepted, why? It may not have been accepted because it is not relevant to the process, for example, or because of some other policy objective. Over time, there is much invaluable learning from that. Without feedback in a public consultation process, it can be a dead end. People can be left with the sense of having no idea why the thoughts they put in were not reflected in the final plan. They will wonder what has happened with their ideas or perhaps only parts of those thoughts will be reflected. It is essential. The Minister of State is saying this is already in the practice.