We expect the national planning framework to be published this year. As the House knows, it is to be placed on a statutory footing. I am a little confused on the procedure so maybe the Taoiseach can enlighten us. The legislation to underpin the statutory nature of the national planning framework clearly states that it should be placed before the Houses, as it states in the legislation, for the approval of each House and the Oireachtas before it is published. Despite this, a parliamentary reply I got this morning from the Minister states that a formal vote on the final national planning framework was never envisaged under the legislation. Either there is approval, as the Bill states, or there is no approval, as the parliamentary question states. Given the importance of the document and the surrounding debate, it is vital to have a debate and vote on it whenever it comes before House.

There is a considerable amount of legislation but it will not be finished until after Easter. We have had discussion in the House. We went through the committee with the report. We had a debate in this Chamber in October on the draft report and the committee report. It was agreed to honour the spirit of the legislation, which we are still teasing through the House. It will be finished after Easter. I hope the plan will be launched this week. We have tried to have consultation.

That was done without the approval of the House.

Deputy Ó Broin has been fully engaged in that consultation. During the last round of the discussion we had more than 150 submissions from Oireachtas Members.

We want to see it, though.

We will submit it to that as well. Our office has been well engaged on this at committee, Dáil and Seanad level during the past year.