Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have seen ones that were going to be brought forward and, on the basis of advance consultation, modifications were made to designs and things like that. It is extremely rare. I have been involved in elected politics since 2004 and, in my experience, I have certainly never seen a draft Part 8 proposal being brought in by officials without anyone having had sight of it. I take the point. The Deputy has used the term "by resolution". That means by a vote of the council's elected members. If there was a major change to something, or a material change, we would have to take a look at what we would do in that instance. However, I am loath to diminish the role of the councillors in any way. I know that is not what either member wants to do. I am not using that as a defence for my position in not accepting these amendments. I will reflect on what has been said. It is different from section 103. I am not going to guarantee anything. I will be dead straight with the Deputy on that. We have to balance this. I believe the Part 8 process works very well. The public consultation piece and councillor involvement work very well. We have to be really careful even with definitions in the Bill. With Part 8 proposals, councillors decide, changes are made and they are put back out on public display. We need to think about it and I will do so. I assure the Deputy of that. However, I will not give any guarantee on it either. I will reflect on the discussion and debate we have had here.