You may say that.

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the rough sleeper count published recently by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. The number of people living on the streets in Dublin has increased by 54% in the past year. There are now 128 people sleeping rough. That is 128 people without a bed to sleep in and without somewhere safe to go home to. It is 128 people without any shelter, who have been failed by this State. This does not include the numbers of people who are seeking international protection who are sleeping rough …

I wish to ask the Tánaiste about yesterday's CSO report showing house prices are continuing to rise. The cost of buying a home is now 10% higher than at the peak during the Celtic tiger years. In Dublin now, first-time buyers face median prices of nearly €450,000. Is it any wonder home ownership rates are at their lowest level in more than 50 years? People on average incomes cannot afford to buy and are being forced into years of precarious renting. When the Social Democrats propose solutions like affordable housin…

On 21 May, the Cabinet approved plans that will result in the loss of direct DART services that serve Howth, Sutton and Bayside. Under the plans approved by Cabinet, these direct services will be lost and they will be replaced by a shuttle service between Howth and Howth Junction DART stations. This is happening at a time we should be encouraging more people to use public transport rather than taking decisions that will have the opposite effect. Will the Taoiseach tell Irish Rail it needs to maintain these direct s…

Yesterday, when I was speaking on this group of amendments I raised a number of points, especially in relation to amendment No. 142 and the need to put as a key objective of the national planning framework the provision of a sufficient amount of affordable housing to be available to buy and rent. The points I raised yesterday were not addressed by the Minister in his response. Will he now respond to the points I am making? I hope the Minister accepts amendment No. 142. I cannot understand why he would not want the …

I move amendment No. 128: In page 65, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(a) securing sustainable development across the State;”.

I move amendment No. 129: In page 65, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "(a) substantially reversing negative trends and indicators in respect of biodiversity loss, water quality, air quality, green-house gas emissions at local and national level, and to provide for continuous improvement of such indicators, through a consistent and robust plan led approach to delivering on such transformations and the protection and restoration of nature under the National Planning Framework;”.

I move amendment No. 130: In page 65, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "(a) integration of Ireland’s national climate objective, and an increasingly ambitious approach to staying below sectoral emission ceilings both arising the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, informing a holistic and comprehensive approach to plan led development across the State, consistent with the requirements of section 3(3) of that Act, and the progressive ambition required under Article 3 of the Paris Agr…

I move amendment No. 131: In page 65, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(a) the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan;”.

I move amendment No. 141: In page 65, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(g) (i) supporting the implementation of language plans in Limistéir Phleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta and in Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta within the Gaeltacht, pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, and (ii) supporting the implementation of language plans in Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta outside of the Gaeltacht and in Líonraí Gaeilge, pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta 2012.”.

I move amendment No. 142: In page 65, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(g) provision of a sufficient amount of affordable housing available to buy and rent.”.

I move amendment No. 143: In page 65, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: "(g) supporting Ireland’s climate targets as per the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; (h) supporting the protection and enhancement of biodiversity.".

I move amendment No. 150: In page 65, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(b) identification of nationally strategic development requirements in respect of reversing negative trends in biodiversity, conserving and restoring rare or protected habitats and species, and habitats for species;”.

I move amendment No. 157: In page 66, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(ii) to reduce the impact of such strategies on the natural environment, and in particular the further fragmentation of habitats, the destruction or compromise of rare or endangered habitats or species, and natural corridors and stepping stones for nature, and the compromise of opportunities to provide for areas for nature restoration,”.

I move amendment No. 161: In page 66, line 12, after “archaeological,” to insert “historic,”.

I move amendment No. 164: In page 66, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(g) (i) protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Irish language and Gaeltacht communities including the promotion of Irish as the community language, specifically by supporting the implementation of language plans in Limistéir Phleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta and in Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta within the Gaeltacht, pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, and (ii) protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Irish…

On this group of amendments, specifically amendments Nos. 175 to 177, inclusive, the thing about the national planning framework is that massively affects every aspect of our lives in how our entire built environment and our general surroundings are developed and planned. The national planning framework is the key framework. In terms of the planning system, it could not be more important or more significant. There are huge problems because there is not a lot of public buy-in to national planning policy or a lot of …

I move amendment No. 193: In page 68, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(b) Such prescribed documents shall include at least information on the following: (i) current information on current and projected population and demographics, including on net-migration and inward migration, coastal and flood related retreats, and climate refugees; (ii) the state of the environment report and indicators on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, status of protected sites, air quality, water quality, soil…

I move amendment No. 194: In page 68, after line 34, to insert the following: “(g) language planning.”.

In speaking to this group of amendments, I have concerns, in general, that the Bill will be enacted with major errors and that will have an impact on people who need to be able to access housing that is affordable, on communities that are being developed without the facilities and the amenities they need, and on general well-being. I have raised repeatedly on Committee Stage and on Report Stage the issue of Aarhus compliance, and every time I have raised it, the response has been a general one that we have checked …