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

Section 61(2)(a) states: "The Minister may, at any time, request the Office of the Planning Regulator to carry out an assessment of a development plan." If we look at the overall architecture of the new relationship between the regulator and the development plan process, we can see that the regulator will be brought in at the very beginning before the elected members. The regulator has a role all the way through. The formal development plan process involves a series of mechanisms to issue draft directions and expedited revisions. Given all of that is proposed, what does section 61(2) mean? It seems to suggest that the Minister may require this at any other time. The entire process is unduly onerous but this seems to add another layer to it. I cannot think of another point where the OPR is not already being given a formal role. What is envisaged here? I presume there is some logic to it.