Vol. 2 No. 2
In accordance with Standing Order 79(b), I propose that the following message be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil:
The Select Committee on the Environment and Local Government has completed its consideration of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, 1998, and has made amendments thereto.
I thank the Minister, his officials and Members for their contribution to the debate.
I thank you, Chairman, and your officials, Members and my officials for their assistance. We have made a number of useful and positive amendments and on Report Stage I will probably be able to report more progress on a number of matters. I thank Deputies for their constructive approach.
I thank the Minister for his open approach. It is an important Bill and all of us are anxious to make as much progress as we can in this area. The Minister dealt constructively with the amendments which were tabled. We complain bitterly about the regulation which rules many of our amendments out of order but that is life. I thank you, Chairman, and, indeed, Deputy Haughey, who stood in for you for a number of meetings. When is it proposed to take Report Stage?
Time will be given to Deputies to look at the paper. If the Deputy contacts me or my office, it will discuss that with him. We will see if we can get Report Stage next week or the week after. We will take Report Stage as soon as we can.
I thank the Minister for accepting amendments on Committee Stage on the basis of the cases put forward. I also wish to express my appreciation for the work of his officials in bringing forward this fine legislation. We have argued the flaws in the Bill but that is in the nature of the job. I also thank you, Chairman, for the manner in which the Bill was expeditiously processed. At times I found your decisions to rule some of the amendments out of order a bit unusual. However, we have done a reasonably good job.
Report agreed to.
Ordered to report to the Dáil accordingly.
