Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I can understand the rationale behind amendment No. 29, whereby there shall be no presumption in law that any land zoned in a particular local area plan shall remain so zoned in any subsequent local area plan. We agree with that, because it clarifies this whole area.

What is the present position regarding zoning? Is the Government introducing this amendment because there are problems around the interpretation of zoning? During the debate on NAMA, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government signalled there will be de-zonings in many areas. Does the amendment address an anomaly in the existing law concerning de-zoning?