Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I take the point that some people are cynical about environmental impact assessments and regard them as, if I may use the word, "influenced" by the pocket from which they are financed. In this case, however, there is a rapporteur as well, which is of some significance.

Senator Jim Walsh mentioned the possibility of a local authority's views carrying extra weight. I think that depends on the view that is expressed. If a local authority rejects a certain point its view may or may not carry more weight than that of a local conservation group which may have put more work and thought into the objection. While I appreciate Senator Walsh's point, I do not wish to create a hierarchy of objectors, to the effect that one is on an inside track but other less formally constituted groups are not accorded the same degree of respect. We need to take account of the reality that the seriously worked out objections of a local authority's planning officers are likely to carry more weight, because of the officers' experience and the nature of their objections, than the objections of a crackpot who jots observations on the back of a beer mat. If I formalise this proposition and say, or imply in the legislation, that one set of objections should carry more weight I might be accused of saying that voluntary groups must fight an uphill battle by contrast with statutory bodies. I hope Senator Walsh can understand that I do not want to create two-tier commentators or objectors.