Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

Will the Senator stop? The amendment is a little pedantic. To add the words "where applicable" is somewhat otiose if one reads the section. The amendment could insert the phrase "where applicable" in a paragraph permitting the board "to indicate that it is considering granting permission, subject to the applicant for permission submitting revised" drawings. The amendment is unnecessary because the section itself states that the board has an absolute discretion as to when it would do this.

The provision is one of the important changes brought by the board to allow it to have greater flexibility in handling major applications. It allows the board to ensure the right development in the right place. The Senator is not in any way querying that, with which I am pleased. However, to add the words "where applicable" would not in this case bring anything additional to the drafting. It is otiose and excessive wording because the section itself is clear in that it gives these powers to the board to use where applicable.