I second the amendment.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter. I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is a very simple Commencement matter to ask the Minister to put in place the provisions for the retention of GP services to ensure that the citizens would have access to an appropriate level of GP care in clinics within the communities of Lucan and Adamstown. That is the critical ask. I am raising this on behalf of Councillor Liona O'Toole who has been a councillor there for many years…

I thank the Minister of State. I will make two points. First, Lucan is a vast area and one of the fastest growing in the entire country. We are now being told it will have an additional one GP and it is only said this post has been offered, not that it has been accepted, although we take it that the person is accepting it. That means there will be 12 GMS doctors for Lucan. Clearly, this will be an issue at the doors in the forthcoming general election. I do not represent Lucan but I know people who do. There is a p…

I agree with the previous Senator on Lebanon. I have family living in Beirut. What a beautiful place it is. Our thoughts must be with the whole region and on the conflicts there. Let us be mindful of the passing of two great former councillors who served in local government: Brian Bermingham of Cork and Rainsford Hendy, who happens to be related to me. They were Fine Gael councillors. Both were distinguished councillors and I wanted to acknowledge that fact and say we are thinking of their families at this sad time…

I move amendment No. 1. In page 27, to delete lines 5 to 12 and substitute the following:“An Act to consolidate and revise the law relating to planning and development; to provide for proper planning and sustainable development in the interests of the common good including recognition and empowerment of the constitutional role of elected members of local authorities as provided for in Article 28A of Bunreacht na hÉireann; to provide for the licensing of events and control of funfairs; for those purposes to repeal a…

In this group of amendments Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, I propose to speak on amendments Nos. 1, 6 and 16, which are in my name and that of Senator McDowell. Amendment No. 1 relates to the Title section of the Bill. I raised this previously. At the outset, I will say that I want to work as efficiently as I possibly can with all of our colleagues in the House and with the Minister and his staff. It is not my intention to go over at great length any of the amendments we have dealt with. We are conscious that we have 775…

I thank the Minister of State. In the interests of clarity, I reiterate that we are dealing with amendments Nos. 1 to 19, inclusive, as well as Nos. 22 to 25, inclusive. I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am always conscious that people may be looking in at the debate. Sometimes, we need to set out the context of what we are doing and what we are about. I will take the amendments in the order the Minister of State has addressed them. On amendment No. 1, he feels it is not appropriate or not required …

I move amendment No. 6: In page 30, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “ “Chief Planning Officer”, who may also be referred to as Chief City Planning Officer or Chief County Planning Officer, means the person appointed to each planning authority and for the Minister to issue guidance. This guidance shall define the role of the officer;”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 37, to delete lines 12 to 16.

I second the amendment.

There are a few bats here.

I move amendment No. 144: In page 105, to deletes line 1 to 5 and substitute the following: “(6) Any assessment carried out in relation to a development plan for the purposes of complying with the requires of Article 6 (3) of Habitats Directive or the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive shall take account of the fact that the development plan may, by virtue paragraph(b) of subsection (5 ), have effect for a period of 10 years.”.

I move amendment No. 145: In page 105, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(c) A planning authority shall be required to liaise with the Chief City or Chief County Planner whose role will be defined by regulations set by the Minister.”.

Yes, and in that order.

The Minister is happy.

In the interest of brevity, I will speak to amendment No. 190, which is in my name and that of Senator Currie. It relates to development and rights of way. Senator Currie has covered the amendment very well so I will not go back over it. I fully support it. I will briefly comment on parliamentary democracy. The reality is that politics is a numbers game. The Minister and I know that, as do all present in the Chamber. I do not have access to the Minister's folder of briefing notes, which is in front of him, but I kn…

Talk through the Chair.

The select committee-----

On a point of order-----

Senator Garvey does not seem to know what she is talking about.