Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. It is clear from what he said that upholding the Seanad amendments would only have delayed the Bill's enactment by three months. That is not necessary and would not have had the material effect that some Senators within the Chamber want. I must put it on the record that Fianna Fáil Senators in particular have been in contravention of their party's position in the Dáil. That is their right. Senator Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister of State to listen, but it is a great pity that she did not listen to him. In our previous debate, he outlined clearly the advice of the Attorney General and that this would be critical if the Bill was to proceed and establish the office of the planning regulator, which most parties want. It is also critical that we put the national planning framework on a statutory footing if we are to give it the teeth we want it to have throughout our regions, local authority areas and local communities. What is set out in the national planning framework will have a positive impact on the country.

I will say no more. It is unfortunate that the Minister of State had to revert to the House and clarify the situation and that the Dáil had to rectify matters. I support the Minister of State's position.