Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am a strong supporter of statutory plans and national planning frameworks. One of the important things about them is that they effectively have the impact of law. We had detailed debates about the statutory nature of the national planning frameworks. It is remarkable that in this legislation the national planning framework is to be approved by the Government and not by the Houses of the Oireachtas, in particular given its statutory weight. We know why that is: the legislation underpinning the existing national planning framework was introduced by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Deputy Alan Kelly was the Minister and it required Oireachtas approval. The Minister will remember the confidence and supply arrangement when a deal was struck to avoid a vote and to allow the introduction of the national planning framework to be approved by the Government. Amendments Nos. 126 and 185 in this grouping on revisions reassert the fundamental role of the Oireachtas. If something has the force of law, if it has a statutory impact and if, for example, as the national policy objectives throughout the NPF are then subject to legal challenge and litigation, it is not adequate or sufficient for it to be approved by the Government. I will be pressing those amendments.

In addition to supporting colleagues on the Opposition, I have a range of amendments here that seek to add other areas to be included in future NPF revisions or future national planning frameworks. I want to mention amendment No. 147, which arises directly out of the Housing Commission's report and its acknowledgement and tabulation of the housing deficit. It requires the NPF – this is particularly with respect to the forthcoming NPF revision – to look at emergency actions with respect to tackling the housing deficit. This is a significant opportunity to do that. If it is not baked into the NPF review - certainly if this Minister and his Government are in charge it will not be adequately addressed because he has known about that deficit since he took office and he did not include it in his existing plan. Therefore, I will also be pressing amendment No. 147.

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