Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

As regards Deputy Burton's queries on the role of the rapporteur and the action to be taken on foot of the receipt of that report, as the Tánaiste stated, section 23 provides for the appointment of a rapporteur to receive submissions relating to the proposed development and the rapporteur shall prepare a report that shall summarise the submissions received and identify the main issues raised. This report shall be published. It is not intended that the rapporteur would evaluate the submissions or make recommendations to the Minister. To ensure this is clear, it is intended to bring forward an amendment on Committee Stage to replace the word "consider" in section 23(2) with the phrase "take account of". This is being done because it appears the word "consider" might be open to misinterpretation in this regard. In accordance with section 25, the Minister may make alterations——

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