I move amendment No. 12: In page 6, to delete lines 31 to 34.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(iii) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (c): “(d) where appointments are being proposed under paragraph (a), such appointments shall be made further to either a public call for applications or from a call for nominations from the panel system prescribed under section 106.”.”.

I move amendment No.14: In page 6, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “(a) in subsection (2), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (e): 3“(ea) The Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission,”,”. This amendment is to remove the reference including the Secretary General of the Department from the committee nominating Chairs of An Bord Pleanála. I do not have if in front of me but amendment No. 15 is about providing some perspective on equality and divers…

I move amendment No. 15: In page 6, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “(a) in subsection (2), by the deletion of paragraph (c),”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following: “(b) in subsection (10), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (a): “(aa) is, or who was in the previous 12 months been, established civil servants for the purposes of the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 or established public servants in State agencies,”,”.

I move amendment No. 20: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(a) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1): “(1A) To ensure the currency and validity of the bodies included for the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister shall— (a) in the month of January of each year, write to each of the bodies prescribed in accordance with subsection (1) requesting they confirm their continued existence and active operation, within one month of receipt of the Minister’s letter,(…

I move amendment No. 21: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(a) in subsection (1)(d), by the substitution of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (i): “(i) organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of persons concerned with representing social and ethnic diversity of Irish society and equality considerations,”,”. Amendment No. 21 broadens the membership to organisations that are representative of persons concerned with representing social and ethnic diversit…

I move amendment No. 22: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “(a) in subsection (1), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (d): “(dd) 5 members shall be appointed from among persons nominated for such appointment by such— (i) organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of persons concerned with the protection and preservation of the built and natural environment and of amenities, (ii) organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representati…

I move amendment No. 24: In page 7, to delete lines 22 to 32 and substitute the following: “(a) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1): “(1) The Minister in appointing ordinary members of the Board at all times under this Part, shall ensure, in so far as is practicable, that— (a) the ordinary members of the Board are persons who, have satisfactory and demonstrable expertise or knowledge and experience of— (i) planning, (ii) environmentally sustainable development, (iii) architecture, (iv…

I move amendment No. 29: In page 7, to delete lines 33 to 41, and in page 8, to delete lines 1 to 3. Amendment No. 29 deletes the proposed provision of an entirely discretionary process whereby the Minister can set up any system to identify prospective nominees from which he then chooses an associated provision on the making of regulations. This is one of the parts of the Bill to which we are most fundamentally opposed. It is a recipe for undermining the independence of the board. We do not want the Minister to hav…

I move amendment No. 30: "In page 7, to delete lines 33 to 41, and in page 8, to delete lines 1 to 27."

I move amendment No. 33: "In page 8, to delete lines 5 to 17 and substitute the following: “(4) The procedure to be undertaken by the bodies or organisations provided for under subsection (1), shall require that further to a request from the Minister to make a nomination— (a) they publicly invite applications from suitably qualified persons for consideration as a nomination as an ordinary Board member from such bodies or organisations as they may apply to, (b) they execute a robust and transparent process to assess…

I move amendment No. 37: In page 8, line 24, to delete “and”

I move amendment No. 40: In page 8, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “and (h) in subsection (10), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph(a): “(aa) is, or who was in the previous 12 months been, established civil servants for the purposes of the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 or established public servants in State agencies,”.”.

I move amendment No. 49: In page 9, lines 26 and 27, to delete all words from and including “may” in line 26 down to and including line 27 and substitute “shall-”. Amendment No. 49 proposes to delete the discretion on action where there has been a complaint or a breach of the code, or other failure as specified. We seek to replace “may” with “shall” on a number of occasions. Amendment No. 50 refers to page 9, line 39, where we propose to delete the discretion on ministerial action where there has been a complaint a…

I might speak first.

With respect to Senators Martin and Murphy, I do not think this Bill will improve the situation. I reiterate Sinn Féin’s complete opposition to what is being done here. In our view, if these measures are introduced, they will make matters worse. We are fundamentally opposed to the Bill. It is not-----

It will be. The legislation is completely unclear and has the potential to undermine the work of the board. We want to work with the Minister to improve and clean up the board and restore public confidence, and we have tabled amendments to that effect today. This is not an acceptable way to progress. Having said that, if a vote is called today, we will abstain because we understand amendments will be tabled around social and affordable homes. As I said on Second Stage, we will support any Government measure that se…

I move amendment No. 50: In page 9, line 39, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

I move amendment No. 51: In page 10, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “(c) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): “(3A) Where the Minister considers further to a complaint of otherwise that the conduct of the Chair may have been such as to bring the Board into disrepute or may have been prejudicial to the effective performance by the Chair or the Board of all or any one or more of its functions, he or she may request the chairperson to— (a) provide a report to the Minister…