John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It might be, and it if is, they will flow the other way. I say that as someone whose local town is New Ross where I do most of my sales. We have to have new sources. Bed nights and sales tax are the obvious ones that could be introduced. I know they have been looked at before and I do not really see why, if we are serious about reforming local government, it should not happen.

Regarding independent advice, I agree 100% with Senator Boyhan. We had some discussions about this in the past. I know some councillors banded together with some of their additional allowances and sought to gain external advice. I do not think it would be satisfactory to have that third-party advice in-house in any way shape or form, but if there is a pot of funding there that is available through the Whips or the corporate policy group, CPG, because not everyone is necessarily within a group, that funding should be there and I fully support it. The Senator is right. There are huge decisions being made, especially when it comes to planning decisions.

Deputy Howlin spoke about the affinities to the mayor of Wexford. He is right. There is an affinity to the mayor of Wexford. The problem now is that there is a mayor everywhere. Is there a mayor of County Wexford that fills the chair?