Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:

3.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of this Act being passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, report to the Dáil on the outcome of any cases involving Ireland in the European Court of Justice rulings, any EU Directives or any other matter which affects Irish planning law.".

Following recent decisions of the European Court, which struck down various matters related to compliance with European law, this amendment would ensure that we are alerted to these matters at an earlier stage of proceedings so that when action is to be taken, we do not delay as long as we have on this occasion. Within three months of the Act being passed, there should be a report to a committee of the House or to the Dáil on the outcome of European Court of Justice rules, the implications for the implementation of EU directives, and the implications for Irish law. I hope it is not controversial to suggest we should have information sent to the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the Lisbon treaty and provisions for the role of national parliaments in the implementation of EU directives and European Court of Justice rulings, and that we have a timescale of three months for that.

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