Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Senator's opposition to this section concerns a technical drafting amendment in respect of remedial environmental impact statements as a result of the substantive changes being made by the Bill. I cannot accept the Senator's opposition to this group of amendments, which comprise technical amendments that are necessary as a result of the repeal of section 177D and ancillary provisions relating to a decision of the board on whether to grant leave to apply for substitute consent. The removal of the leave to apply stage when applying for substitute consent is one of the core elements of this proposed amending legislation. Therefore, I cannot consent to its removal, nor to the removal of any ensuing technical amendment elsewhere in the Bill.