Seanad debates

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

10:30 am

Photo of Alice-Mary HigginsAlice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. As some of my colleagues who co-signed the amendment are not present to support it, I want to indicate our support for it. It is a constructive amendment. My concern - it is important that this be understood - related to the one-way dynamic of briefing. As it has been described, however, if the briefing is going to take place at a full council meeting, there will be an opportunity for discussion. I stress that it will be a discussion and not a decision. It is not introducing a new obligation in terms of sign-off but that a briefing and an opportunity for discussion will be available to the public to engage with and see the information available.

This is a reasonable amendment that would deal to some degree with the concern and discomfort about members of the public being able to see that their representatives work on these issues. Houses will spring up, so to speak, and people will go to their local representatives to ask about that. They should be able to see the information that is available to their public representatives and the feedback that might be given in a normal council session. I do not believe that would delay the process unduly because I understand the Senator is not looking for a decision to be required, rather a briefing and a discussion.

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