Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 32 refers to section 11. Were Deputy Morgan's amendment to be accepted, it would have the effect of removing the provision for direct consultation. I understand Deputy Howlin's concerns that this may be used to exclude certain people from the communication process.

The way the legislation is prepared it is not possible for that to happen. On Committee Stage, I listed many existing systems for direction consultation that are effective in conveying information to people. If the section were removed, one unintended side effect could be that the good practice built up in the area with the help of the National Centre for Partnership Performance, NCCP, and other bodies would be lost.

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