Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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I propose we go into private session to deal with items Nos. 2 to 5 on the agenda. Is that agreed?

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Before we do that, I wish to ask why most of us had to find out about the reorganisation of local government through the media and why this committee has been bypassed essentially in that it was not given any kind of briefing on this. I have seen absolutely nothing on this other than what I heard from listening to "News At One". Some respect must be shown for this committee. This is outrageous. I want to make that point.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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The Deputy's comments are noted.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I support my colleague on this issue. I read two pages of the briefing document in the canteen. It is outrageous we had to learn about it in this way and that we were not briefed or did not receive documentation on it. As of now there is still nothing in our pigeonholes on this. We know absolutely nothing about it. It is disgraceful and outrageous.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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I add my voice in support of the complaints expressed by the two previous speakers. It is appalling we had to hear of it in this way. This appeared in the newspapers yesterday and the radio stations had the story this morning. Town councillors in our constituencies, many of whom have served for 25 and 30 years, telephoned members from all parties wanting to know what was happening. It is not good enough. What is our committee for?

Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I would add my voice to those of the previous speakers. I am exceptionally disappointed about this when the proposals are of such a fundamental nature and will have a major impact on democracy, particularly at local level. When people telephone us or contact us they expect that we as legislators would have information on a matter. It is a pity this has happened and in some way it will contaminate the future debate on this matter.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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I would point out that I think we all received an invitation to attend the launch in Dublin Castle this morning at 11 a.m.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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No. We did not.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Deputy Coonan has the floor.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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I think there have been numerous briefings. We have met the Minister on various occasions and we have had an opportunity to put forward-----

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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We did not.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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What was happening was well flagged in advance and widely known. If the members did not receive an invitation to Dublin Castle-----

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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We did not.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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-----that is regrettable. They should have received it. Nobody could stand over that. I accept that every public representative should be treated with respect and be properly briefed.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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For the purposes of the record of these proceedings, I advise that the clerk to the committee did not get any notification of it either.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I wish the Chairman the best of luck in his new role. I attended and I received notification of it and I understood I received it because I was a member of this committee but there were other members of political parties there, including a member of Deputy McLellan's party who is also a member of this committee. Some information was circulated but, clearly, others did not get it. There must have been some breakdown and it would be worth checking that as it is very important that every member of this committee is treated equally.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To clarify that point, a member of my party was there but he had to ring and request an invitation at a late hour.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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The members' comments are noted. I propose that we now go into private session. Is that agreed? Agreed.