Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

It is important that the impact on the built environment should also be considered as part of the environmental impact assessment. The concerns of residents living near the proposed development, for example, should be taken into account. Does the Minister envisage that such issues will be included in this process?

In other legislation providing for decisions of this type to be taken by a Minister, provision is often made for an oral hearing. Does the Minister agree it would be appropriate to include such a provision in this Bill? This question is relevant not only to section 19, as amended, but to Part 4 in its entirety.