Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 19, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:

“ “prescribed bodies” as referred to in this Act for the purposes of consultation, shall include at least the following:

(a) Fáilte Ireland;

(b) the Marine Institute;

(c) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(d) the National Parks and Wildlife Service;

(e) the Heritage Council;

(f) An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland;

(g) Inland Fisheries; and

(h) such other bodies concerned with environmental protection as the Minister considers should be included;”.

This amendment would insert a new definition into the definitions section in order to ensure that we provide a list of bodies. It is an indicative list not a closed list and allows for others to be involved.The Minister of State might reference the fact that others may emerge that need to be included, but the amendment provides an indicative list of bodies that have environmental expertise and should be considered prescribed bodies for the purposes of consultation. This is part of good practice in consultation and planning and is recognised in other aspects of our planning legislation. The Minister of State will hardly argue with the relevant expertise of the suggested bodies. I hope that he will be amenable to accepting this amendment and including these bodies as " "prescribed bodies" ... for the purposes of consultation". I note that the amendment does not prohibit the addition of further prescribed or expert bodies as may emerge, and are emerging, in the marine area.