Mr. Andy Moloney:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee for the invite to make this submission. The Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, must be commended for the work they have don on behalf of councillors in recent years. I have sat through everything since 1999. I was with a party and when I became surplus to requirements, I went my own road, as is well known. I have had the support of many Independent Senators and Teachtaí Dála since then.

We have seen the decimation of local councils, as has been spoken about. I will not go into it too much. I was changed from three different districts in the period of the last three elections and I never moved house. On each occasion I moved, my next-door neighbour could not vote for me. I am not saying he would have, but that is a different point.