Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome amendment No. 140, which seeks to substitute "the integration of the pursuit and achievement of the national climate objective and National Biodiversity Action Plan" into the national planning framework. That enshrines it at the very highest level in our planning and plan-led system. That is a real strengthening of the wording in this Bill to protect climate and the environment. I welcome the additional strengthening of the Bill. The national climate objective is defined in the definition section as set out in the Climate Act, so it is a very positive move. I welcome that the Minister has done that. Again, it was a commitment that was given on Committee Stage and I thank him for including it.

Paragraph (b) of amendment No. 186 refers to "a summary of any observations made on foot of the consultations under" the national planning framework. That is a welcome addition also. It is something I raised on Committee Stage. I asked about it on the basis of a county development plan where there is a summary of the submissions made so that people can see what submissions were made and their general thrust. This is a positive move and I welcome the amendment.

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