Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of Section 46 is to provide a clear legislative power to acquire land for the purposes of certain mitigation measures that may not normally be regarded as traditional or usual mitigation measures. For instance, usual mitigation measures for which lands are compulsorily required of which has been accepted and for which there is very little legal debate include items such as new access arrangements, lands for noise mitigation or landscaping and such other mitigation measures. However, the type of mitigation measures envisaged on Busconnects are not the usual type of measure.For instance, replacement car parking is location-specific and so it is unlikely there will be suitable lands available on the open market at the required location. Therefore, the power to acquire such lands compulsorily is necessary. The provision makes specific reference to the power to compulsorily acquire land for any mitigation whatsoever, rather than including specific details. The inclusion of the wording in amendments Nos. 62 and 63 will not add, in my mind, to the Bill, and are potentially confusing. In the case of amendment No. 64, it would actually limit parking to disabled parking only, which would limit the mitigation measures envisaged in delivering the BusConnects project. In that regard, I am afraid I cannot accept the amendments and would prefer if the Senators would withdraw them.