Alex White (Labour)

I move amendment No. 18:

In page 12, line 11, after "paragraph (a)" to insert the following:

"(other than a resolution accepting an amendment which has been approved by the Manager)".

This amendment is concerned with a possible defect in the Bill's treatment of amendments to the development plan, which it proposes will require a two thirds majority. Sometimes amendments are proposed by the manager and sometimes the manager will accept an amendment suggested by somebody else. The effect of the Bill as it stands is that the manager's amendments will be defeated unless two thirds of members vote for them. A case can be made that a simple majority would be more than adequate for amendments accepted by the manager. The matter of amendments opposed by the manager is dealt with in a separate amendment. The Bill as drafted seems to be quite bureaucratic and will make it very cumbersome to pass an amendment to which no one is opposed. It cannot even be passed by acclamation because a roll call would be legally required to show that two thirds of the overall membership voted for it. An issue seems to arise and the Minister of State might consider responding to it and addressing it. Amendment No. 24 is on the same point.