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

The amendment is to change the structure of how this is worded, which is:

(a) securing national and regional development strategies, including maximising the potential of the regions;

(b) supporting proper planning and sustainable development in urban and rural areas;

We propose a wording whereby proper planning and sustainable development runs through (a) and (b):

(a) Securing sustainable national and regional development strategies;

(b) Maximising the potential of the regions, while supporting proper planning and sustainable development in urban and rural areas;

Instead of (a) and (b) as currently worded in the Bill potentially being set against each other, the proposed wording would mean it is very clear that both objectives run concurrently with sustainable development. While it may seem like a minor rewording there is significance in terms of how these could be interpreted. There is also significance in the prioritisation given to balancing sustainable development with the other objectives. It should go without saying how important it is that sustainable development and sustainability are included in (a) and (b) in terms of the national planning framework and setting out the objectives.