Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I see no reason there should be any issue with these amendments, which are in the context of what regard the Minister should have when making a decision on the Christmas period. The issue of public consultation is very important. With the strategic housing development, SHD, process in particular, there is the provision for municipal committees or area committees to have an input. If they are not meeting, that obviously affects the SHD legislation. Likewise, if we are in a period where larger planning applications cannot have the usual level of public consultation or public engagement, these are issues to which the Minister should have regard when deciding to bring in what is effectively the Christmas period. This is just to broaden the list of criteria to which the Minister should have regard and there is a good case for accepting it.

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