Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)

I am glad to hear the Minister will be publishing it. His predecessor as Minister for the environment described it as the most important project in the previous programme for Government. It is vital that it be released. I am not quite sure why the Minister is holding on to it. It is a report designed to inform policymakers and I am not sure whether the brains trust the Minister has put together are the only ones who should be looking at it. I do not know why it has not gone to the Climate Change Advisory Council. It asked in September of last year for it to be completed. It could be sent to the Oireachtas committee. It could and should be scrutinised by every stakeholder.

Phase 1 of the land use review discovered that 78% of land in this country is held by private landowners. To the extent that we want to manage and plan how our land is used strategically, we have many people to bring with us. It is important they be brought into the process as soon as possible.

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