Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. Yes, this Bill is a long time coming but it is an important one. I will focus on one aspect of it. I have had a number of meetings with a number of planners and city and county councillors in recent days. I will address some of them with the Minister of State later. I will be bringing forward a number of amendments on Committee Stage. It is important. I am seeking professional assistance with regard to these amendments.I believe they would be productive and add to the Bill. That is their function. When the Taoiseach was in the House the other day, he spoke about added value and scrutiny assisting in the legislative process. I hope we will see some of it in action next week. The Bill is on the Seanad schedule for next week. Therefore, we need to start preparing to take it. Most Members will not receive the schedule until Friday. As leader of the Independent group, I attended a leaders and Whips meeting today and can advise Members that it was agreed to schedule the Bill and time has been provided to debate it. That puts us all on notice. It is important to make that point.