Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We will now discuss the comprehensive action programme for the reform of local government, Putting People First, with representatives from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I welcome Mr. Des Dowling, assistant secretary, local government division, Mr. Denis Conlan, principal officer, local government development section, Mr. Dónal Enright, principal officer, local government policy section, and Mr. Aidan O'Reilly, principal officer, community division, who are here on behalf of the Department. I thank them for attending.

I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of evidence they give to this committee.

However, if they are directed at any stage by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her or it identifiable. The opening statement and other documents they have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website this afternoon. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The document we are discussing was published last week. Members of the committee were displeased, to say the least, that they did not receive an official invite to the event and I empathise with them. It was an unfortunate oversight, but I realise that the decision was not within the remit of the officials before the committee. I thank them for appearing before it at short notice. I acknowledge that we have received a lengthy opening statement, despite the fact that we did not realistically expect to receive one, given the short timeframe between the issuing of the invitation and its acceptance.

Local government reform is a significant issue, one in which we are all interested. Almost without exception, Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas would have begun their careers on councils. Local government is an innate part of the role of the individuals with whom the delegation is engaging. We all know the system and its failings and how it should be reformed. Members will focus on certain issues. I call on the delegation to address how the new local government structures will be used to bind natural communities together in a community context. This relates to its role in terms of economic units enhancing local development, job creation opportunities and the important role local government has to play with regard to industrial units, agrifood units and creating sustainable jobs in rural areas, as well as the critical role of the planning process, especially in trying to maintain the vitality and vibrancy of town centres.

Local government is for everyone on all parts of the island, not only those in town centres. There is a critical role to be played in terms of areas not be covered by municipal district councils. I call on the delegation to elaborate on the role municipal districts will play. Obviously, there are reservations, in part due to the abolition of town councils. We can see the streamlining of local government and, in particular, the role municipal districts will play. They will have a role along the lines of that of area committees. We are keen to see the establishment of better local government and the creation of strategic policy committees. We want to avoid duplication and creating a system that, to all intents and purposes, is meaningless. This must be real reform. Reductionism is not reform; reform is led from the bottom up and the top down. It is a strong role. I am keen to tease out the issue of municipal districts, how they will be brought into being and the role the reformed local government sector will have in areas that are not town centres. Substantial hinterlands in counties have never been covered by a town council. What is to be the role played in respect of these areas in the future? I call on the delegation to address these points.