Alex White (Labour)

I agree with my colleagues. I am concerned about the possibility of a minority rump in a council determining the outcomes of these very important issues. The rationale for having a two thirds majority as opposed to a simple majority is worth further debate in the House because it is one of the more important proposals in the Bill. I am not stating that I could be persuaded by the Minister of State but I cannot exclude the possibility that I might be if he puts forward a strong enough argument on why he regards it as so necessary. The Bill is good, the Labour Party supported it on Second Stage, the thrust of the legislation is progressive and correct and I believe the Labour Party will support the vast bulk of it.

I am open to argument on this question but as Senators Coffey and Cummins stated, it is proposed to change the existing situation and as such the burden falls on the Minister of State to set out why it is so necessary to change such a significant provision in the planning Acts. I am not excluding the possibility of the Labour Party being persuaded but it would require time, careful analysis and a careful explanation from the Minister of State. It would be a significant change to how these decisions are made in local authorities.