Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I probably did not explain myself properly. Where the Government “shall have regard”, obviously, “shall” is used in the context of prescribed documents. Section 22(2) states that the Government “shall” have regard to plans as may be prescribed but section 22(1) deals not only with prescribed documents but other documents as well, so the Minister or Government “may” have regard to such plans or documents as may be appropriate. Apart from the “shall” in respect to prescribed documents, it allows the Minister to look at other documents as well. That is the explanation.