Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 16 seeks to insert a provision that provides for the laying of a report by the Minister before both Houses. Specifically, amendment No. 16 seeks to impose a ministerial obligation to lay a report before both Houses within 18 months of the passing of the Act with the report having previously reviewed the Act, including having sought the views of city and county councillors and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage beforehand.

I understand the thrust of the Senators' amendment but I do not think it is required. Existing planning reporting arrangements from the Planning Act, as amended by this Bill, are already in place and are robust and fit for purpose. All planning decisions related to information are published promptly on the website of An Bord Pleanála. Additionally, specific arrangements are in place to allow Members of both Houses to make direct inquiries of the board regarding substitute consent planning matters.

In addition, while the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has already had the opportunity to scrutinise this Bill as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the committee may consider and report to Dáil Éireann on matters relating to planning policy and may, therefore, form an appropriate vehicle relating to any post-implementation assessment in due course without the need for the duplication of the committee's responsibility in this Bill. It is for these reasons that I am opposing amendment No. 16.