Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It has been a long process to get to this stage. I feel like I have been working on this for approximately two years, possibly longer. It is significant and major legislation, as people have noted. I suspect I am not the only person who will speak today who has not read the publication we received recently in its entirety.

We all agree that while the 2000 Act served well in many areas, it has been amended so often over the years that it had become almost impenetrable and impossible to understand and was creating difficulties. It is important that we consolidate and bring everything into this one Bill. Some significant changes to planning legislation have also been proposed in it. I hope the Bill will be remembered for the right reasons. We have a number of Stages to go through during which we will have the opportunity to read it. I expect we will be taking Committee Stage at the start of January when we return from the recess, so people will have an opportunity to get up to speed. I am not suggesting that everyone should spend their Christmas holidays reading this Bill, but I intend to.

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