Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Much has been said in recent days about the terrible loss of revenue arising from the cancellation of concerts in Croke Park. It is self evident and does not need any further embellishment from me. However, there are certain issues from which lessons must be learned. One is that no amount of spin will substitute for real and meaningful reform of local government. The fact that any one person is allowed to make decisions of this nature, particularly somebody who has no electoral mandate and is appointed in a system that is highly questionable, must be examined. I may not be up to speed with how the Local Appointments Commission currently functions, but when I was involved in local government it was pretty evident that it operated as an old boys' club. The names of people who were going to secure positions were often known well in advance of any interviews or recruitment process. At one stage, I heard a Minister describe the Local Appointments Commission as being corrupt. It needs to be looked at and we should move away from executive decisions.

There should be an incremental movement to reserve functions of the council so that elected members, who have a mandate from the people, can exercise decisions. They are accountable to the public and will be held responsible for their decisions subsequently. I ask the Leader to invite the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to attend this House for a full debate on the issue.