Amendment No. 15, in the name of Deputy O'Dowd, would give the final power to approve the transport strategy, after the Minister has approved it, to the joint Oireachtas committee. To hand over such an Executive responsibility to the Oireachtas would usurp the Government's responsibility to govern and would totally undermine the ministerial accountability the Deputy has consistently demanded throughout the debate on this legislation. We had a good and constructive discussion on Committee Stage. I have tried to widen the process of consultation as much as possible at all times, without providing for a process that can go on and on. It is important that timelines are in place.

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