Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I am sorry the Senator had to stay up so late at night. I hope he did not lose too much beauty sleep. Unlike the previous amendments where he wanted to strike out words, these amendments add words. I understand the Senator's point, which is to remove the phrase "or for the purposes of an activity for which" from subsection (5) and insert a similar phrase later in the Bill, which is a little odd. The phrase used throughout the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996 is "comprising or for the purposes of an activity". That is sufficiently broad to ensure the EPA is consulted where it is necessary for the board to obtain its views.

I do not propose to accept the amendment. There is a risk of confusion where different language is used in different sections to express the same idea. Much of the language used in the Bill is based on the existing phraseology of the 2000 Act. That is why I want to keep the language in the two pieces of legislation, which will be read in conjunction with each other, as close as is possible. Senator Bannon stayed up very late that night but I hope it was a pleasant one for him otherwise. I cannot accept the amendment.