Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Amendment No. 45 inserts the word "any" before "aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected". This precision is necessary because it is possible that a proposed development might have no significant adverse effects on the environment.

Amendment No. 46 adds "cultural heritage" to the list of those aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by a proposed development which must be considered in an environmental impact assessment, EIA. The subsection already includes material assets, which are defined as including architectural and archaeological heritage. However, cultural heritage is specifically referred to in Article 3 of the European Council directive of 27 June 1985 dealing with the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment, from which the provisions relating to the EIA in this Bill are drawn. The words "cultural heritage" were inadvertently overlooked in the drafting process and their inclusion will ensure the provisions comply more closely with the provisions of the EU directive.