An interesting point raised on Second Stage was how the Minister, the Docklands Authority and Dublin Corporation were going to dovetail. I would be interested to hear the Minister's view.
SECTION 4.
Amendment No. 3 not moved.
Question proposed: "That section 4 stand part of the Bill."
Obviously amendment No. 3 cannot be moved. Amendment No. 3, as tabled, would require the approval of Dublin Corporation for orders of the Minister for the Environment. We cannot allow the system to work that way. The Minister for the Environment gets his authority from the Dáil and, in this case, derives his authority from Acts of the Oireachtas and those powers cannot be subject to the approval of a local authority.
I wish to comment on the possibility of extending the Dublin Docklands area. I know the Minister has the power to extend the area and the Dublin Inner City Partnership made a strong point for the inclusion in the area of Gardiner St. and Dorset St.
The area prescribed in the Bill is the area that was recommended by the task force. It is a very large area and there will be debate wherever the line is drawn. The power is available to the Minister for the Environment to extend it but I am confident that there will be an impact on the areas adjoining the designated area which will benefit everybody. I think the Bill encompasses a sufficiently large area already and we should see how things progress. The power will reside with the Minister in the future to amend the area if there is good reason to do so. At the moment, we have a sufficiently large task before us dealing with the area already designated.
We should see how it goes and the power would reside with the Minister to amend the area if there is cause to do so. We have a big task ahead of us in the area we have designated.
The area proposed in very heavily weighted in favour of the south side, whereas the area north of the river has far more problems. Would the Minister look at this point? He has the power under the Bill to extend the area but he might want to reflect on whether it is wise or desirable to concede the point made by the deputation and extend the area from the outset.
I will reflect on that.
Question put and agreed to.