I did not interrupt the Deputies once. They will get their time and come back. In September 2021, there was a 15-month comprehensive review of the Planning and Development Act. This was asked of the Office of the Attorney General by the Government. We are talking nearly three years on that. In December 2021, the planning advisory forum was established. It was made up of over 30 key stakeholders in the Irish planning sector. It met on seven occasions to consider proposed reforms emanating from the review carried out…

For reasons stated right through every hour of the debate and in every section of the Bill and every amendment we tabled. Fundamentally, we need a planning system and planning legislation that support the needs of our people. If you go outside this House and say to any normal person on the street the word "planning", the first word most will come back with is "delays". What do delays do? They cost people homes, schools and strategic infrastructure. This is more than an earnest effort; this is actually doing somethi…

That is not true.

That is not true.

If the Deputy lets me, I can answer that.

I will answer it again.

We are not.

That is fine.

I thank the Deputies who have contributed. I will not go over the old points but will address some of the issues. I completely reject Deputy Connolly's remarks. In no way, shape or form are we taking anyone out of the planning process. Third-party observations are totally and utterly respected, and rightly so. Normal people, residents' associations and environmental groups do exceptionally important work for us to ensure planning applications are properly scrutinised, and no suggestion should be made in the House t…

Seanad amendment No. 19 amends section 9 to provide that where the Minister proposes exempted development regulations that are likely to affect the performance of a State authority, the Minister shall consult that State authority before making the regulations. The text as currently written has this as a discretionary consultation, however it is appropriate that any such consultation be mandatory. Seanad amendments Nos. 20 and 21 amend the definition of “relevant act or operation” and “relevant change in use” in sec…

During the debate on Seanad amendments Nos. 1 to 18, the first grouping, the Deputy asked a question about reclaimed land and the maritime area. I did not respond to him, but it is covered by one of the questions he has just asked. All the amendment in question will do is bring reclaimed land under the definition of "land". What I was saying about masts, which I think most people will welcome because we have seen some instances of this, was that Seanad amendment No. 26 will add a regulation giving power to the Mini…

I will come back in there. Before I respond to Deputy Matthews, I commend him on his role as Chairperson of the Oireachtas joint committee, specifically in respect of this Bill and the manner in which Committee Stage was carried out, but not just that, given there have been other significant items of legislation for which he has chaired the committee. We have managed to get through the likes of the Affordable Housing Act, the Maritime Area Planning Act, the Land Development Agency Act and now this once-in-a-generat…

Deputy Boyd Barrett, to be fair to him, has engaged with this Bill the whole way through the debate. We have been transparent about everything right the way through the process. If we were to slow down proceedings to the pace some Members wanted, we would not have this legislation passed for five years.

These amendments relate to Chapters 1 to 3, inclusive, of Part 3 of the Bill, which deal with the definitions for the Part, the national planning framework and the national planning statements. Amendment No. 31 introduces a definition for "transport infrastructure" to section 17 and broadens the term "transport infrastructure" to include a reference to infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. Amendments Nos. 32 to 34, inclusive, amend section 18. The section currently provides that where Part 3 of the Bill requ…

That is horseshit.

That is horseshit.

On a point of order, I am not sure whether Deputy Boyd Barrett was present when I responded to the charge some TDs made in relation to the Seanad amendment that was brought forward. I responded on the record on that matter. Deputies Matthews and Leddin have spoken about important amendments. I cannot believe Deputy Boyd Barrett has just dismissed them like that, especially for someone who represents-----

The idea that transport infrastructure includes a definition for cyclists and pedestrians is right and proper. It is important they are afforded the same status and standards as everyone else.

We have already dealt with that, however.

I spoke in the House already in the nearly 200 hours of debate we have had on this Bill. I spoke on this issue when we were discussing the first grouping of amendments, that is, amendments Nos. 1 to 18, inclusive, because the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allowed latitude at that stage. I responded on behalf of the Government. The charges the Deputy made against my two colleagues were wholly inappropriate.