I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I wholly endorse this amendment. Without rehashing and going over what we said last week, participative engagement by citizens and elected members of city and county councils is vitally important. We need to see it in the context of a form of local government. I posed a question here last week and thereafter received calls from three sitting councillors in Limerick. I did not think too much about the issue until I received those phone calls yesterday. If we are to have an elected mayor of Limerick, as we and others…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(ga) a statement setting out how the proposed LRD has had regard to the relevant objectives of the development plan or local area plan in whose area or areas the proposed LRD would be situated, and”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, line 41, to delete "development." and substitute "development, including elected members of the local authority.".

I am conscious that we are under time pressure. We have discussed much of this before. It is disappointing that the Minister has not accepted the amendments we discussed on Committee Stage, which would retain the right of the city and county council. The Minister made his case with regard to it. We had a vote on it as well, and clearly it was not supported by any of the Government parties in the House. It is important that city and county councils, given their collective views, their huge involvement locally and th…

I am disappointed. I will be pushing this to a vote, partly because I have given a commitment to the city and county councils that I will pursue it. I went through the legislation line by line and thought really hard about this matter. This is where I stitched it in the provision because, as the Minister has rightly said, it allows the planning authority to engage with a community. All we are asking for is an explicit reference to elected members of local authorities. It is very simple. Instead of using the propose…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 8, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(1A) The planning authority shall make the opinion available on its website, together with a copy of plans and other details discussed at the consultation meeting, upon lodgement of the LRD application.”.

These are the final two amendments in my name. I will be withdrawing amendment No. 11 with the agreement of the House. Amendment No. 12 states: In page 8, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(2A) The LRD opinion issued by a planning authority under subsection (1) shall be made public when a planning application in respect of the proposed development is made in accordance with section 34.”. I thank the Minister and his officials for the engagement I have had with them. One issue I had to return to, ha…

I thank the Minister for that. I appreciate his response and wish him well in continuing with this legislation. I thank him for his time and thank his officials for their engagement.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 8, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(2A) The LRD opinion issued by a planning authority under subsection (1) shall be made public when a planning application in respect of the proposed development is made in accordance with section 34.”.

I call Senator Seery Kearney.

I call Senator Ruane. I also thank her for pressing for this important debate.

Thank you. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte. The next speaker is Senator O'Loughlin.

I now call Senator Conway. You are an amazing timekeeper; you are spot on. I do not know how you do it.

Anyway, you have four minutes.