Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 279, tabled by Deputy Steven Matthews, seeks to amend section 35(3), which requires the director of a regional assembly, in carrying out any screening for strategic environmental assessment or appropriate assessment of an amendment of a regional spatial and economic strategy with a view to avoiding duplication of assessments, to take account of the fact and content of any assessment the Minister has conducted in respect of the relevant national planning statement. I understand the merits of the amendment and I would like to give it further consideration. If it is appropriate, I will bring forward an amendment on Report Stage to try to address this issue. This amendment appears to propose that the director shall also consider its adequacy when taking account of the Minister’s assessment.