Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will follow on from what Deputy O'Callaghan has said and the Minister's response. The Minister said the section will only be used in national emergencies and extreme cases but the worry is the wording. He also said that this would not be used on an ongoing basis but the problem is that the section has been included, which gives additional powers to Ministers and the Government. That could potentially ride roughshod over local authorities and local councillors without their having an input. The Minister made the point that this is a new provision. He is trying to bring in future-proofed legislation but the concern is that while it might future-proof the decisions of Ministers or a government, it might remove powers from local authorities, especially councillors. Deputies O'Callaghan and Ó Broin have made genuine points and outlined them clearly. I hear what the Minister is saying but I have seen the diminishment of power in local government over the past 20 years. This section looks like it might take another notch from local government and local democracy.