Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This amendment seeks to substitute the phrase "have regard to" with "be consistent with", as provided for in section 3(2) which deals with matters that must be considered when the Government approves a national mitigation plan or national adaptation framework. I appreciate the sentiments behind the Senator's amendment, but as the list of items to be considered in section 3(2) may sometimes compete with one another, it may not always be possible to be fully consistent with them simultaneously when approving either national plan. Accordingly, the phrase "have regard to" is the most appropriate to use in that it requires a balancing of considerations rather than strict compliance with each. I am, therefore, unable to accept the amendment.