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

There is an opportunity under the interim review of a plan. The Bill provides for it to happen "not earlier than 4 years and not later than 4 years and 9 months". Officials have listened to councillors and local authority staff to consider this in terms of what is appropriate. There is an opportunity at the interim review for one-term councillors to have an input. If the Deputy wants to bring forward amendments on Report Stage, he should by all means do so. However, as I said, it has significant consequential implications for other periods in the Bill. I absolutely appreciate, and did appreciate, having been a councillor for 16 years, the important role councillors have in the development plan process, but unfortunately in this case I cannot accept the amendment.