Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. As he said, I am the rapporteur for this report and the body of work we are doing in terms of public hearings on the future of local democracy. I very deeply welcome our guests to the Chamber. It is so fitting that they will be addressing members this evening and putting out their points of view. This matter is something I feel very passionately about. I have been elected 25 years this summer and spent 17 years at local government level. In the previous Dáil term, I was the spokesperson for Fianna Fáil on local government. It is something I feel very passionately about.

Today is a very interesting day because four former Ministers for local government addressed us this morning, including Deputies Howlin, Ó Cuív, who is a former Minister of State, Phelan, who was Minister of State during the previous Dáil term, and former Minister, Noel Dempsey. That will be an important counterbalance, as they are four men who were responsible for framing legislation in how the system operates, against now hearing from a wide body of those who are the practitioners who have to work within the framework or constraints of the legislation that is passed.

It is important that we hear from both sides. I look forward to hearing all views this afternoon and making sure they are reflected in the report we will produce.