Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 12 is a technical amendment to provide for a standard definition of days based on that included in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The term “day(s)” is used throughout the legislation and it was important that this aspect did not generate any confusion in relation to the application of legislation. This dates back to a difficulty in planning cases, as I can recall, whereby if a party makes a planning application on 23 December, even though the officials are not in their office for the next two weeks those days are regarded as days under the planning application system. The amendment will bring clarity to what counts as a day and improve the matter with a definition. There was a general acceptance of its need at the time.

Amendment No. 13 is a technical amendment that allows expenses incurred by the Minister to be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. This is a standard provision.