Mr. William Parnell:

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. He raised a huge list of issues and I will try as best I can to respond to them. He will appreciate that not all of the issues he raised fall within the Department's remit. His main point was about the national planning framework and the infrastructure that is required. The Department has made a formal input to the national planning framework. We have also been in regular contact with officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the national planning framework. We have indicated that we would like to see a strengthening of the section on rural Ireland and rural development and perhaps something a little stronger about the regions other than the cities. Deputy Fitzmaurice raised the question of a veto. The national planning framework will be a Government document so the question is a matter for the Minister rather than officials. That would probably be a policy issue.