Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

This second group of amendments deals with the forward planning aspects of the Bill. Amendment No. 5 amends section 10 of the Bill by inserting subsection(1)(d) to provide for the inclusion of a separate statement in the development plan, which shows that its development objectives are consistent, as far as practicable, with the conservation and protection of the environment.

Amendment No. 6 is required to transpose Article 10 of the habitats directive into Irish planning law. Article 10 of the habitats directive obliges member states to endeavour, where they consider it necessary in their land use and development policies, in particular with a view to improving the ecological coherence of Natura 2000, to encourage the management of features of the landscape that are of major importance for wild flora and fauna.

Among other new mandatory objectives for inclusion in development plans an objective is provided to promote compliance with the water framework directive and its consequent river basin management plans, ensuring that the relevant local authorities set out their objectives in line with the relevant regulations.

Amendments Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, are technical amendments to the proposed new text of section 10 of the principal Act, and amendment No 11 makes a number of technical procedural amendments to section 11 of the principal Act, which deals with the preparation of a development plan. That is section 6 of the Bill.