Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I fully understand the importance of this legislation but the point needs to be made, particularly from the Opposition side, that we live in a parliamentary democracy and how the legislation is being put through is not good practice. I recall that when the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was a member of a previous Government, one of his constant themes was the frustration he had felt in opposition, with only two Green Party Deputies, at the way legislation was handled. He is now doing the same thing. This is nothing personal and I have a lot of time for the Minister of State, whom I have known a long time. He is a man of integrity who supports engagement with the political process.

However, I am conscious the Houses are going into recess today for a week. We learned earlier that the Government was not in a position to accept any amendments to the legislation we debated before coming to this Bill. I would say it will be the same in this case. We need to be honest with people. Let us not waste people's time, including that of the Minister of State, talking about engagement when the decision has been taken that no amendments will be accepted. This is an important point and it is part of a bigger issue of reform. The reality is we have a vast coalition Government that does not even need to have its full complement of Senators in the Chamber to pass every Bill it brings forward. That is the reality and it is the same in the Dáil. I do not say that as a negative but as something we need to acknowledge and something that can be frustrating. However, nothing lasts forever and we are nearly halfway through the Government's term. At the very best, it can last for another two and a half years and it may come to an abrupt end earlier than that. The tides will always reverse but that is not a reason to accept the way things are being done.

Nevertheless, I will support this legislation because it is important. I have put down an amendment, which I will speak to on the next Stage. The real concern I have relates to planning and development, something in which the Minister of State has been involved in the past in his political career. The Bill "seeks to disapply the Planning and Development Act 2000 and defines that the designated development is exempt from the provisions of [an EIA] directive". These are the Minister of State's words, not mine. The Green Party in government is agreeing to do that. It does not sit comfortably with me and I do not think it would sit comfortably with a lot of the supporters of the Minister of State's party. However, it is what is happening, as outlined in his speech. It is on the record of the House. I thank the colleagues who put down amendments and I look forward to engaging in debate on them.