Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the Minister and commend him on first bringing this legislation to the Seanad. As Senator Dardis pointed out, quite a record has been established of allowing Senators to have the first say on environmental legislation, which I welcome. There is much to be welcomed in this legislation and I look forward to an in-depth examination of it in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, it provides for a very regrettable diminution and undermining of local democracy. In that context, we cannot support the provision.