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

I have a couple of questions, just to seek clarity. Subsection (1) reads "Before making or revising a regional spatial and economic strategy in accordance with section 30, a regional assembly shall" and then stipulates the various things a regional assembly shall do and whom it should consult. When discussing the national planning framework, I was struck that the soft word "may" was used in respect of the Minister. I would be interested in having put on the record the reason the Minister gets a lighter set of obligations than the regional assemblies, particularly given that the national planning framework is ultimately the plan that sits above all others.

What is the purpose and scope of subsections (5) and (6)? With regard to a disagreement that could arise between the local authorities and the regional assembly, subsection (7) refers to the Minister stepping in with a resolution related to the provision of money, staff and resources, for which the regional assembly depends on the local authority. There is only a one-way direction, from the Minister to the local authority. I can imagine circumstances in which local authorities themselves could be stretched for staff, given the chronic shortage of staff in our planning authorities. Where does that come into consideration? I am seeking an explanation of subsections (5), (6) and (7) to understand them properly.