Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir. Bhí a gcuid ráitis ar fheabhas agus iontach suimiúil, so I thank them for that. I have just four quick questions and comments. Every contribution would give rise to a discussion in itself and all were brilliant, but I will just touch on four things. I am fascinated by the Fórsa contribution in the sense that, when I was a young fellow, getting a job in a county council was extremely sought after, extremely prestigious and it was the wish of every parent to have their child working in the council. As such, the change there is fascinating and the representatives might comment more on it. Do they think the change is around the fact there is a lack of power there or there is a feeling there is a lack of influence? For potential candidates I know it is around salaries, so there are a number of things. To what degree is the power an issue in it? I am picking it up anecdotally that many councils are having trouble with recruitment at the moment when it comes to the number or applicants. That is my first question.

I thank Councillor Murphy for his contribution and the work he does in the EU. As he correctly identifies, 70% of the legislation that impacts on our lives comes through the EU. Does he feel he is influencing that and, if so, through what mechanisms and can we assist him?

I find Councillor McEvoy's situation fascinating because, to be truthful, if a regional authority gets powers, does that not by definition erode the powers of the county councils? It is a very difficult one to manipulate and I would be fascinated by his response to it.

I agree absolutely with Councillor Horgan on the data. Councillors cannot operate without it. I am prepared to say publicly we need to restore the town councils. We certainly need to restore them in the larger towns. I am not as aware as my colleague Senator Wall, who I have great respect for, that the municipal districts are failing but the absence of town councils is a huge problem for democracy and may be contributing to all the extremes that are developing. I would be interested in any further remarks the witnesses might have to make about that.

Time is an issue and every contribution this evening could give rise to a discussion in itself. I mean that genuinely and am not being patronising. They were outstanding.