Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for attending. Will the indicate whether they foresee any difficulties with regard to how the new municipal district councils will operate? The reaction to the proposal to abolish town councils has been mixed. Many town councillors are very concerned about the local knowledge and ownership that will be lost as a result of this move. Do our guests foresee any difficulties in this regard?

I served as a councillor for ten years and I benefited enormously from the training that LAMA provides. Have our guests examined whether any mechanisms might be put in place to encourage women to enter local government? I am of the view that it is a terrific learning environment for people and provides great preparation for national politics. The fact that LAMA is focusing on the application of social welfare entitlements to councillors would be a tremendous asset in the context of encouraging women to enter politics. That is not to state that men are not great, because they are, but in order that we might strike a balance, perhaps LAMA and other representative bodies might examine - in a serious way - what might be done in respect of this matter.