Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On that basis, I will withdraw amendment No. 455.

I wrote amendment No. 446 prior to the biodiversity action plan becoming a statutory document. We have had much discussion, especially with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, on this. The Minister will review how we look at biodiversity protection and consultation in relation to it. On that basis, I am happy to withdraw amendment No. 446.

That brings us to amendment No. 450. This is about voting records and the ability for the general public and people who would perhaps not be in attendance at a development plan meeting or any other meeting where a resolution is required of members to get information. I have gone through the Bill and picked out every Part or section where there is a reserved function for members to take a vote. All of the information on voting is available on the public record; it is just very difficult to find much of the time. I have been at development plan meetings and meetings where a resolution has taken place and I have seen members of the public there to see their councillors vote in a certain way being totally confused. The councillors voted against what they were there for but they are getting a thumbs up because they cannot follow it. Therefore, I am trying to bring a little bit of transparency.

We are always trying to engage more people in the planning process. I am seeking for the Minister to consider this and set out in regulations that the details be displayed in respect of every resolution taken by council. All this information is there; it is just a matter of putting it in an easily accessible format. People may want to see which way their local representative voted; the plan or process to which the resolution related; the proposal or the proposed amendment; the name of the proposer and seconder; the chief executive’s response; any other prescribed bodies response if applicable in that situation; the voting record of the resolution; and the date of the resolution. It would be a bonus and a benefit to our democratic and participative planning process in this country. I think we have one of the most participative planning systems anywhere, right the way up to the election of councillors, to the crafting of development plans, to the decisions made on those development plans, to the opportunity to appeal and the opportunity to go further than judicial review if you feel the need or requirement to do so. I am interested to hear the response on this. I take on board that all that information is there. I am just trying to make it more easily accessible and readable for members of the public or anybody else with an interest in planning.