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

With respect to the Minister of State's response to amendments Nos. 401 and 402, if adding further complexity to the planning process was a reason to not put something in the Bill, very large sections of this Bill would not see the light of day given the very significant level of complexity they are adding to the system, whether one can say that is a good idea or not. I therefore just do not accept that.

The importance of the development plan, as well as for things to be explicitly referenced in the development plan, is key. In respect of native species, in amendment No. 401, and hedgerows, in amendment No. 402, I can see no reason these would not or should not be accepted. I do not think complexity is the reason.

With respect to amendment No. 403, I am unclear on the reason the Minister of State is not supporting it. I am not so sure his reference to the commitment by the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to have another look at the issues of biodiversity in the context of the national planning framework will suit for this. Ultimately, we would like to see changes being made both to the sections of the Bill the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, outlined previously and to these sections.

Regarding amendment No. 407, the Minister of State read out a subparagraph of what I thought was in section 48 but I cannot see it.