Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with most of the contributions. Generally, Part 8 is a good process. It is a very democratic process. I am not talking about where the chief executive's report comes forward and contains something that may not have been in the public consultation. Something may have occurred in the process. In that situation, the councillors are free to reject that part of the chief executive's report. I am talking about where a proposal is made, at the time of the voting on it, by resolution. It may have been the first time that this has surfaced. Therefore, one must have some guidelines on how extensive a modification, by resolution on the day, can be made because the chief executive's report will be assessed by the planners in terms of whether the modification complies with planning and the development plan. On the day of the vote, by resolution, a modification can be made yet there has not been time to have it assessed. I seek to retain that ability for councillors but apply the same provision because it cannot be a significant and substantial modification on the day, and that does exist and happen in my experience.