Mark Dearey (Green Party)

Indeed, the Senator is.

I would like to believe that on this quieter day in the Oireachtas due recognition will be given to the truly important nature of planning legislation. This is a landmark Bill which will create new landmarks on the environment which I hope will be more sustainable.

On Senator O'Reilly's point about families living in the community, I take it he was referring to families from those communities. We are trying to stop unnecessary migration from towns. The Bill will lead to the creation of a better landscape, better planning and more sustainable delivery of services. It will give a better direction to councillors and planners, increase the efficiency of An Bord Pleanála and lead to a wider distribution of development levies in the community. I regard this as a truly important day in legislative terms.