241Consultation

241 Consultation

(1) If required under Part 3 or by the Planning Minister under that Part, an assessment committee must undertake consultation in accordance with that Part and this section and any direction given by the Minister in relation to a matter referred to it by the Minister.

(2) A requirement by the Planning Minister under Part 3 must specify—

(a) the persons or classes of persons that are to be consulted; and

(b) whether or not the assessment committee is required or authorised to hold a conference with the persons to be consulted.

(3) The assessment committee must ensure that all persons invited to attend a conference under this section are advised in writing of the time and place at which the conference is to be held within a reasonable time before the conference.

(4) If consultation is undertaken under this section, the assessment committee must ensure that the relevant project proponent is—

(a) advised of the consultation itself; and

S. 241(4)(b) amended by No. 43/2021 s. 217(14).

(b) given written notice of the time and place of any conferences held as part of the consultation; and

(c) invited to attend any conference or other further consultation that takes place.

(5) A conference held under this section must be presided over by the chairperson of the assessment committee or an assessment committee member nominated by the chairperson for that purpose.

(6) The assessment committee must consider the discussions and resolutions of any conference held under this section when making an assessment committee recommendation.