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

In the text of my amendment, in the new subsection (b), we are inserting "screening determination". This is to ensure that both the determinations on screening and, separately, appropriate assessments and environmental impact assessments, would be covered by this provision. There are two issue. The first is to ensure no group that has a legitimate interest in the environmental consequences of a development, which, by the way, may not be objecting to something but might simply want adequate environmental protection provisions in the granting of the permission, can do so. I hear what the Minister is saying about 24 months versus 12. There could be cases where a group emerges within that year period. I know the Minister will not accept the amendment but I would like him to consider it with his officials to make sure that nobody who should be facilitated would be excluded.

What is the rationale for ten people? It seems like an arbitrary number. Why ten rather than five, 20 or 50? If there is a rationale for that, I would be interested to hear it.