Mr. John A. Moran:

The other witnesses may have some views on this but I believe this is going to change government and the way things operate. If it is done well, the Limerick-based Members of the Oireachtas will be freed up to deal with more national issues as a result, which is what our national Parliament should be doing, and look at the policies that apply across the State and have the kinds of debates we are having now, thinking not just about Limerick but about the whole country. It moves the decisions on the allocation of budgets, the decisions about infrastructure, liveability, housing and so on down to the Limerick level. It empowers the councillors in particular to play a much more active role with the much more significant level of power and budget that is happening locally. Then the Oireachtas Members will become not just lobbyists on behalf of little parts of Limerick, for example looking for a swimming pool here and there, but genuinely able to engage at the proper national level of national politics and youth politics. which is so important for the State.