Ms Gillian Coughlan:

Gabhaim buíochas as é sin. If we really look at it in real terms, how did any of us get on the Committee of the Regions? We were appointed. Some of the positions should be up for election because that would create interest among councillors and an appetite, which should exist. I might not be thanked for saying that by my delegation. Political legitimacy is supremely important. It was always so but particularly now where a person can say, "I have the mandate to say what I am saying and my electors elected me to this position". That aspect needs to be addressed, considered or at least examined.

We have democratic legitimacy and we must ensure it is more in the public domain. As has been said, there are many councillors who do not even know what the Committee of the Regions is and that really is not good enough. I am not sure it is the Committee of the Regions itself but, here in Ireland, ourselves, as a delegation, and perhaps this committee, could do some more work. It is something that I am very keen to do. It is very important to shout it from the rooftops. When there are storms or who is implementing the housing policy? It is the local authorities. Who implements all of the infrastructural and planning changes that we need? Local authorities do that work. They are the closest to the citizen. We need to strengthen that and represent it in Europe and make Europe work for us as local authorities.