Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I am grateful to the Senator for his persistence and charm. Regrettably, my answer will be the same as it was on Committee Stage.

Before I reply to the Senator, however, I wish to speak on a personal note. I recall the former Senator Codd, who was from Wexford. I am aware that Senators have just paid tribute to him, and to former Senator Mannion, and while it may be inappropriate for me to do so, I wish to be associated with those fine tributes. I extend my sympathy to the members of Fine Gael, who have lost two former colleagues.

This group of amendments seeks to revise the description of the actors in the planning process, namely, the Environmental Protection Agency and the prospective applicants, with the consequential deletions. On Committee Stage I sympathised with Senator Bannon's attempts to simplify the language of the Bill as virtually every Bill could do with some simplification. I made it clear, however, that while the language may seem excessively complicated the phrasing used by the Parliamentary Counsel is the best and most appropriate way of expressing our intentions.

None of these amendments would add value and they could reduce the legal certainty of the text. I regret that I am not in a position to accept any of the amendments. We will later discuss another amendment which demonstrates the dangers of accepting textual amendments on the hoof.