Results 3,681-3,700 of 15,009 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: If there is a good example of the challenges of the Green Party in government, it is the exchange we are having now. I do not say that in a flippant way because, to be fair to Deputy Matthews, he is tabling a range of amendments that I support and that are very sensible. His party colleague is reading out speaking notes arguing why policies that are, broadly speaking, Green Party policies...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Deputy Matthews is feeling the pain that we have been feeling.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: It is much more painful when one has to do it in real time.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: They say there are two things one should never watch being made, namely, sausages and legislation. My apologies to the vegetarians. I say that because what we are witnessing is a good example of probably how not to make legislation. I say that with the greatest respect to everybody involved in the process. We are scrambling around with two different sets of groupings of amendments. I...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: It is just a fact of the process. Moreover, this is on an issue that is not peripheral to good quality planning in the 21st century but one which is absolutely essential. Again, this is no criticism of anyone in this room but this is what happens when you ask the former Attorney General and a bunch of lawyers to go off and do the first draft of a Bill. On profound issues of planning, had...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I also seek a clear justification for the position, even if it is only the official note from the officials.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure. The only thing I would say is that if the frequency of that statement continues with the frequency we have had to date, the officials will be obliged to draft an awful lot of documents to bring back to us, which is giving them extra work. The purposes of these sessions is to tease this stuff out in public session where there is a record of it and where external parties can view it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: While I will of course accept a note, the Minister of State should be careful of the number of extra notes he is giving to his officials to do. In addition, those notes do not get scrutinised and discussed publicly.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Before doing that, I will return to the stuff we discussed. Apologies, but I will press the Minister of State. I am looking for a clearer explanation on the refusal to accept amendments Nos 350, 481, 616 and 794. I appreciate the Minister of State read through a long note at the start but it is very difficult for me, and I am sure for people outside the building, to keep track of all of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: We have but the explanation is not clear. I am not looking to discuss it any further; I simply would like the Minister of State to be clear on why that and the other three that we have already discussed are not being accepted. I am not so sure the Minister of State is clear.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I appreciate that and understood that but I am asking the Minister of State in summary form to explain the concerns regarding those four amendments because I am just not clear. I am not looking to respond to that; I just want the Minister of State to put it on the record.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: And the other three?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am not looking to be awkward but the purpose of this Stage is that we table amendments and the Minister of State gives his views. If there is anything unclear, we get the Minister of State to clarify and we move on. There are three amendments here that I am asking the Minister of State about because I am not clear what is his position in front of our committee. Is it that possible just...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: The Minister of State has responded to those already.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Which amendment are we talking about?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: No, amendments Nos. 426 and 448 are in this group.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: This is not easy.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I might just come in, with the indulgence of Deputy Matthews. It is remarkable that we are talking about assuming one formulation of words is equal to or stronger than another. This is the legislation that is meant to be underpinning our planning system. One of the reasons this legislation is being produced is that years of amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000 have created...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is clearer.