Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

These amendments make a number of small changes to section 21 of the Bill, which amends section 135 of the principal Act. The main amendment is amendment No. 108, the purpose of which is to enable a person holding an oral hearing to require any officer of the local authority, as opposed to a planning authority, to give information to the hearing. This is necessary to ensure that the person conducting an oral hearing has the necessary powers to carry out the tasks required in all types of oral hearings that the board may hold. Senators will be aware that not all local authorities are planning authorities and, in addition, the board is now holding hearings in broad areas and will need the attendance of officials capable of dealing with a range of local authority functions.