Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to address Deputy Matthews specifically because he raised an important point on climate action. Amendment No. 549 deletes the reference to the climate Act in section 86. That was agreed with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications as part of the amendments on climate. We are working through this and there has been really good engagement. Amendment No. 549, in my name, will delete lines 20 and 21 on page 200. We are working on this with the Department responsible for energy and climate. I think that has been agreed. We will insert the reference into the national planning framework and development plans, so we do not need to have it in section 86. That is important.

We had a good discussion on the community garden aspect. We are going to consider Deputy O'Callaghan's point because there are really good examples of trusts and charitable organisations that have used their land. The drafters have done a good job with the definition and we might be able to work on that in the future. I am not making a commitment that I will be able to make a change in advance of the passage of the Bill but the point is well made and reflects what I see in my own area. I thank the Deputy.

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