Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I compliment the Minister on that section. It has been very carefully drafted to ensure the Bill going through the Seanad which might not come into law until next year will apply to NAMA. The Minister is making provisions to ensure that if permissions lapse, there is protection for the State. That is a very shrewd move in this regard.

A different approach could possibly have been taken, however. Local authorities have section 80 which differs slightly from the normal planning permission. It is up to the county councils to grant planning permission on different grounds. It is a fast-tracking approach, but as far as this Bill is concerned, this is a very shrewd move which protects the State's interests. It deals with both sides of the coin in terms of the current situation in which some of them will lapse between now and Christmas and may be extended for a period of time and in terms of the new Act under which they can apply to the local authority and get an extension in the normal manner. Well done.