Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The reason for my sponsoring this amendment is that, whatever the intention of the Bill, a plain reading of it suggests the Minister will be prompted to formulate national planning statements. The relevant provision is section 24(1)(n). In making a decision, the Minister will produce a national planning statement. The issuing of policy guidance will be prompted by certain considerations. It is absolutely fine that a Minister should have regard to the integration of appropriate architectural and urban design and quality standards into development plans. A good reason for a Minister to issue a national planning statement would be to ensure this. It would also be good to ensure it in respect of urban area plans, priority area plans and co-ordinated area plans.

However, it absolutely should not be the case that a particular application for development would prompt the Minister, or be a reason for the Minister, to issue a national planning statement.