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

I fully accept that the thrust of the amendments is to improve the legislation. I also agree that this legislation is not about making matters slightly better but about really improving the robustness, transparency and quality of the decision-making of An Bord Pleanála. That is what we are setting out to achieve.

I go back to the point about environmental experts or environmental law experts. Regardless of the constitution of the board, the raft of climate, environmental and nature law coming before us, as a State, will govern decision-making. That is significant for whoever populates the board and the decision-making of An Bord Pleanála, as well as the work of local authorities in planning. I just wanted to make that final point.