Mr. Peter Mullan:

I am certainly going to defer to the expert in that regard. I will give the Senator an initial view. I have indicated that the complexity of some of these cases is recognised. People talk about Madrid. I have heard references to Madrid at this committee. The complexity of many of these infrastructural projects is reflected in our sister organisations throughout Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The timelines are what they are.

Our environmental obligations arising from European directives appear to have been considered in the common law jurisdictions differently from in EU members which are civil law states. I would not underestimate the complexities of this. Ms Kellett will give a more nuanced answer.