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

Okay. Amendment No. 173, in section 22, relates to the way in which the NPF review process deals with a variety of other plans, documents etc. I have two issues with the way in which section 22 is worded. Section 22(1) provides that in carrying out a review under section 20, the Government "may have regard to" such plans or documents as it considers appropriate. It is very different language from that of section 21(4), which provides that in carrying out a review under section 20, the Government "shall have regard to" any observations made in the consultation. Given we are talking about plans or documents that are broadly speaking Government policy, it seems strange that we are saying that it "may have regard" to them rather than that it "shall have regard". I think that is a mistake and it needs to be strengthened.

On a similar point, the text of the amendment it is much more explicit with regard to the range of plans and documents that should be considered. It goes a step further because some of those matters fall within the remit of relevant Oireachtas committees. As the Minister knows, I am a great fan of Oireachtas committees and their important role in holding the Government to account and making sure the Governments take their views on board. Therefore, the amendment does a third thing, which is to insert relevant joint Oireachtas committees into that process. It is about "shall have regard to" rather than "may have regard to"; a much more explicit list of the types of documents and policies; and reinserting the relevant Oireachtas committees into this part of the national planning framework review process.