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

There are two questions I would like the Minister of State to answer before I speak to the amendment. We are dealing here with proposed amendments to the planning statements. Section 24(10)(a) refers to a situation where "it does not substantively or materially alter the draft National Planning Statement". Who decides what is substantive or material and against which criteria? Section 24(10)(b) refers to a situation where "it is not likely to have significant effects on the environment or on any European site". What is "significant", who decides and against which criteria? These are obviously going to be quite important judgments if amendments are going to be made. I would be interested in hearing the Minister of State's answers to those questions and I will then speak to the amendment itself.