Yesterday, the Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government heard legal advice from the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Adviser confirming that the Dáil vote in November did not constitute Oireachtas approval of the national planning framework. This directly contradicts the claims made by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government in the House on 14 and 15 February. Sinn Féin believes that there must be a vote on the national planning framework, and we will submit amendments to the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 to secure that vote.

When does the Government intend to bring the legislation back to the Seanad?

The legislation very recently progressed significantly in the Seanad. It is our intention that the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, will bring the Bill back to that House as soon as the Seanad schedules it, at which time additional amendments may be dealt with.