Mr. Pat Fitzpatrick:

I thank the Senators for their contributions. A lot of us are speaking one language. We are speaking of the concerns we have. Between the executives and the members, there has to be a lot of working together. However, there also has to be a healthy balance. We are elected and sent in by the public to push for whatever are the requirements. We have to challenge the executives, which is important. Something not mentioned is that the council has changed over many years. We are 125 years in existence. However, there is the issue of supports for the councillors in the council facilities, so members have access to rooms and so on. Some councils have them and others have not. A party has its particular rooms available five days per week. Sometimes when we look for meeting rooms, they are not available and are overcrowded. To provide better local government you have to provide better facilities as well. Yes, there is the loss of powers, but there is nothing to say councillors cannot meet the challenges put in front of them. Councillors are responsible. That is why the electorate sent back so many councillors who put themselves before them, and re-elected councillors. It is because they have trust in them. Central government and departmental officials have to have trust in the local authority members.

Again, the supports have to be provided. We do not need to see the likes of the JPCs, which, as was stated correctly, have worked superbly over recent years. If they want to bring something into the municipal districts that is fine, but in terms of counties we need to have the JPCs. It is all about who is answering at these. We need to see at least a chief superintendent and a CEO of the council answering. The way we are going we will have a reserve Garda answering to us at the forums they are proposing. We have no real say and we are losing. That is one area the Minister and the Government could look at again quickly to reduce and give us back some of the powers taken away from us late last year.