Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 20, line 18, to delete "from time to time" and substitute "at least once in every two years".

I hope the Minister of State will accept this amendment because, on Committee Stage, it appeared that it may be accepted. The amendment requires a contingency plan to be prepared every two years as opposed to the current wording which states "from time to time". A degree of certainty is required. I would have thought that would be fairly straightforward and that the Minister would have accepted that there be some certainty by changing the legislation to include it. It is a fairly small amendment but it gives some certainty.

Amendment No 7 removes the requirement of the RPII or the EPA to consult the Minister prior to the preparation of a contingency plan. It is open to a Minister - not necessarily this one - to be quite directional in terms of the preparation of a contingency plan. It strikes me that a contingency plan should be prepared and only after that should there be an option to consult the Minister.

Amendment No. 9 requires the EPA to consult prescribed bodies on heritage and the natural environment. I think it was said on Committee Stage that it was open to do that but it is not a requirement. There is a major difference between saying it is open to one to consult and a requirement for one to consult. The Minister of State will appreciate that it strengthens the hand of the NGOs, in particular prescribed bodies on heritage and the natural environment.

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