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

Most counties seem now to have mayors of counties as well as mayors of cities. In Limerick, the mayor of the county is the mayor of the city. It is daft. What is wrong with the word "cathaoirleach"? I know people will say it does not mean anything internationally. "Taoiseach" does not mean a hell of a lot internationally either yet there are lads regularly looking for the job.

I make no apology for my utter opposition to anything that resembles the reintroduction of town councils and I will never change my mind on that. It was a system that meant that some people got two ballot papers and others got one. That is just not democratic, end of story. Whether a version of it can be reintroduced, I firmly believe the extension of the municipal district is the way to go with it. Deputy Howlin spoke about Kilmuckridge. Kilmuckridge is an electoral area, not a municipal district.