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

I thank the Minister for his explanations. One issue that came up when we were dealing with section 13 of the Bill on Committee Stage was whether or not mobile phone masts and so on would be able to avail of this provision to, in essence, circumvent planning permission. One legal expert who gave testimony to the committee suggested that this section of the Bill and the related definitions would allow that. I think officials were saying that is not the case. Literally as we are speaking, a story has broken in the Irish Examiner that indicates that the Minister's officials have now referred the matter to the Attorney General. It would be welcome if the Minister clarified that. It suggests that might be a matter on which Minister intends to table amendments in the Seanad. If all of that is true, it raises some questions about that exchange. It might be useful for the Minister to take the opportunity to deal with that, since it is materially relevant to the amendments.

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