Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 58:

In page 44, line 21, after "planning," to insert "and the use of Irish within the community, in the case of a development in a Gaeltacht area,".

I will speak specifically to amendments Nos. 60, 61 and 65 to 67, inclusive and my colleague Deputy Ó Snodaigh will speak to other amendments. This is to try to save as much time as possible and to move through the amendments.

Amendments Nos. 60, 61 and 65 relate in some shape or form to the interaction of exempted developments, unauthorised developments and exclusions from such categorisation where things have an impact on the environment or would require environmental impact assessments, EIAs, appropriate assessments, AAs, etc. I am interested to hear the Minister's response to those amendments and I may reply in turn.

Amendment No. 66 relates to our desire to ensure that prescribed bodies are consulted on the making of regulations with respect to section 9, which relates to exempted development. This is an important area of regulation. The Minister has made the point today and previously that if there had to be such consultation on all regulations, it would slow down the process. However, these regulations are of a particular kind and given there is a bespoke process for the consideration of such regulations by an Oireachtas committee, prescribed bodies should also be included.

Amendment No. 67 goes one step further. I can anticipate the Minister's response, which will be similar to his previous response. However, my view is that given the particular nature of such regulations, a level of public participation is eminently sensible, as well as being in line with the Aarhus Convention. I ask the Minister to consider the amendments.

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