David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I have two issues with the Bill which are relevant to this amendment. The first is the removal of powers from local government in respect of water services. I served on a local authority for seven years and I heard many calls from councillors of all parties and none for more powers to be given to local government. We had a discussion during the Seanad referendum campaign about whether we had a robust system of local government and the need for a debate on the powers and function of local government in the context of empowering local authorities rather than taking powers from them. Previous Governments took powers from local authorities in respect of waste management-----