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

To answer Deputy O'Callaghan's question first on amendment No. 1108, which seeks to reduce the total value of shares from €13,000 to €1,000, we believe €13,000 is the appropriate level at which shares should be declared as part of a declaration of interest. The reason for that is that this amount is in line with the levels set by other bodies, including the Standards in Public Office Commission. It is the same level and we pitched it at that, as opposed to €1,000, to keep the consistency of declarations when compared with other agencies.

Regarding the staff and the board, I have had two town hall meetings with the board, most recently in January when I met and spoke to staff and we had a good engagement. I also met the board members on their change of management plan and the new structures in preparation to it. The team here and officials within the planning Department, such as Mr. Paul Hogan, engage on a regular basis with the board and it is something in which we are very interested. That staff engagement is happening. I am not sure when the Deputies had their last meeting with the staff but I certainly discerned a much better and positive atmosphere within the board on my last visit in January. What is also good to see in respect of the filling of posts is that people still see An Bord Pleanála as being worth applying to. Even with the issues that were there for a short time, this does not take away from the excellent work the vast bulk of the staff have been undertaking for years. They should be very proud of the work they have done and that they continue to do. I am very supportive of that. That engagement between management and the board through the chairperson and the HR function is very robust now. Some months ago, a number of the staff union representatives wrote to me regarding the proposed name change, in which I firmly believe, and I responded to their correspondence. However, I met with the staff there and it was good. The point is that people are applying to join An Bord Pleanála in the knowledge that it will become an coimisiún pleanála and there will a new structure that underpins it. That is why I am firmly of the belief that the name change is one thing but it is a new departure for this organisation and the Bill underpins that, so it is appropriate there. I will get to Deputy Ó Broin's amendment now-----