Ms Mary Hoade:

I thank Deputy Higgins for her comments. As I said in my opening statement, the one thing that angered most AILG members was the issue around section 183 and the removal of councillors' powers. We would be very happy to sit down with this committee to discuss this matter. I very much welcome the words in the statements made by committee members on partnership and collaboration because this is what we are looking for. I do think that there is a role. We would be happy to sit down with the committee to discuss this matter further but we definitely want to see that.

On the comments made about the LDA, I would be happy to see the agency in the same role as everybody else under the lobbying register. The initiative would be good governance and it is important that we recognise that as well.