Mr. Andrew McGuinness:

I thank Deputy Murphy for his words, wisdom and advice. I agree with everything he just said. The message I take from it is elected members on the regional assemblies should be more active about pushing the work of the assembly and informing our colleagues in our home local authorities. As an example, I was elected chair of the regional assembly not so long ago and a photograph appeared in the local paper of me with the chain on. I immediately had the interest of all the other members of the local authority who were wondering where the chain came from and what the position was. I explained it to them and then every second person on the street was stopping me to ask about it. What I took from that was that every event I attend, even this one, I might put something on my social media or send something to the local paper. It raises awareness of not only the work we are doing as local public representatives and the different positions we hold within local democracy, but also of the workings of the regional assembly and what people may not be aware of. We recently had the fantastic news in Kilkenny that our old library has been funded for a new project under the THRIVE programme. Again, the general public assume that is coming from the Government or Kilkenny County Council. Of course the local authorities will want their kudos as well, but the regional assemblies need to be recognised a lot more for the work they are doing, the funding they are providing and the fact that certain projects within your city or town would never have come to fruition if it were not for the assistance of the relevant regional assembly.