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

I can assure the Deputy that I will. We are engaged with management and staff in the board on a regular basis but on foot of the requests by Deputies Ó Broin and O'Callaghan, I will reinforce that message. It is good that it is being raised here on Committee Stage. We have all mentioned our high regard for the staff there already and for the important work they do. They have all our support. I will make sure that is done.

There were another couple of amendments there. Deputy Ó Broin had tabled amendment No. 1088, which related to the use of an Ghaeilge tríd an mBille. We are looking at what we can do without getting into 1,000 amendments but I am looking at it where appropriate. We have had good debates faoin teanga earlier on in the Bill and I will be coming back with some Report Stage changes on foot of what has been raised.

On amendments Nos. 1101 and 1102 regarding the appointment of the chief planning officer and ensuring a mix of experience, where practical. There are all listed on pages 603 in section 439(3). What Deputy Ó Broin has put in there relates to it being collectively proposed to amend the list of qualifications and experience for the planning commissioner, including both chief and deputy chief and to insert both reference to ecology and experience in Irish language, the Gaeltacht and language planning pursuant to Act na Gaeltachta 2012. First, regarding the insertion of "ecology" as proposed in amendment No. 1103, I am opposing this, as the qualification list already contains reference to the environment which can and should be construed to include experience of ecology. I am also opposing amendments Nos. 1101, 1102 and 1106 as planning is already a listed qualification and would include knowledge and experience in language planning pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta as also contained in the Planning and Development Bill.

In addition, an coimisiún as a public service body is already required to meet, and rightly so, certain requirements under the Irish language Acts.

That said, we do have a job of work to do in particular. I will come back on Report Stage on the counties that have Gaeltachtaí within them and ensure people in counties that have Gaeltachtaí can engage with planning authorities through Gaeilge as well. I will be coming back with some significant amendments on the special area plan. They can also deal with the commission through Gaeilge. I refer the Deputy also to the head of planning in Dublin. I was at the recent launch of An Chomhairle Chraiceáilte in City Hall. A fantastic group of staff provide services through Irish across a number of departments in Dublin City Council and the council must be commended on that. We will work with them as to how we can extend that across other services too.

We may bring forward further amendments on Report Stage in relation to an coimisiún around governance and so on. We are working through it and I just want to flag this with the committee.