John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everyone's views are important, be they from any of the bodies that are suggested, or not, by Senator Higgins, or from individuals.I come from a coastal county, namely, Waterford, and this is relevant for everyone who lives along our coastline and anybody who lives in Ireland. The Minister of State is correct to point out that many of these bodies have been engaged extensively throughout this process. We have done a huge body of work at the joint committee on this matter and many of these issues have been teased out on Committee Stage at select committee. Whether a body is prescribed or not, there is nothing precluding any individual or any body from having an input into any stage of the process, though the Minister of State may correct me on that. That is right and proper. It is sufficient and whether one is an individual in Dunmore East, An Taisce, the EPA or the National Parks and Wildlife Service, one has a right to have a say on any of these matters. That is what the legislation provides for.