Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

Amendment No. 23 proposes the deletion of the proposed amendments to section 28 of the principal Act in regard to strengthening the requirements for planning authorities to adhere to rather than merely have regard to key statutory guidance issued by the Minister under this section, whereas amendment No. 24 proposes to substitute the words "take into account" for the word "consider" in regard to policies and objectives of the Minister contained in section 28 and development plan guidelines. It seems that one half of the Opposition is trying to water down the proposals and the other half is trying to strengthen the requirements. It is a challenge for the Opposition to speak with one voice when it comes to their thoughts and concerns on this Bill.

The strengthening of the Bill is important, as planning authorities will now have to demonstrate, by way of statement, when preparing and making a draft development plan how it has implemented the policies and objectives of the Minister contained in ministerial guidelines.

The Labour Party's amendment proposes the substitution of the words "take into account" for the word "consider" in regard to policies. We believe that the word "consider" is wholly appropriate as this consideration is in the context of the statement that the planning authority has been obliged to append to the draft development plan or the development plan as the case may be, which must demonstrate how the planning authority has implemented the policies and objectives of the Minister contained in ministerial guidelines issued under section 28.

The amendment is not being accepted. The substantial point to be made is that there is disagreement, if not disarray, on the Opposition benches as to whether we need to tighten up or loosen the planning process.

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