Mr. Colm Ward:

I wish to reiterate what has been said. One is talking about introducing a strategic layer of influence with the directly elected mayor responsible for a region rather than the individual local authorities. The community work and community development work of local authorities is key work – the work that means most to communities. In the statement, I mentioned coming from an area that has had to overcome the challenges of the past. Anything that reverses this trend and local connectivity is to be railed against.