Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Since so many Senators are coming in on this point, it is probably a good idea to have everybody's views aired on whether we go for this fully-planned approach to our infrastructure in Ireland, or whether we just fly by the seat of our pants and take it decision by decision. I am favour of the former, but I have problems with the draft national planning framework. I went to the committee meeting last week on the first day that the consultation opened to air those views. I encourage everybody, now that it is open for consultation, to have those views aired. I completely agree with what Senator Casey said. When enacted, this Bill will be changed over and over again. That is what we do in this House as legislators; we change things over time. This bit is not working; let us tweak it. We have been talking about this Bill for years. We could spend years more talking about the Bill. If Members really genuinely care about what is in the Bill, they should get involved at the earliest possible stage. It is not enough to come in and say lots of things when it comes before the Seanad.

When it came to the climate Act, I worked beforehand and when I did not like something in it, I worked with the Department officials and advisers. I did not just wait until it came to Committee Stage and ask whether I could table this amendment. Genuinely, that is not how things work. What is important is that we have the Minister of State here so that when we are concerned about something, we get it on the record, we speak briefly, we get him to put something on the record of this House, we move on and encourage him to come back on Report Stage. This is a process. It is an ongoing process. We are all involved in it. Let us hear from everybody and then move on to the next amendment.