Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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How would we determine the bona fides of those to be included in this group? The Deputy is asking me to put this into primary legislation. It would be a matter of good practice for a port, or any unit of infrastructure, to have a way to structure its engagement with the community in which it is located. For example, in Grangegorman Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, with which I am very familiar, has a consultative forum, separate from the board of directors, in which it engages with the local community. I know that while people might feel they are consulted, they might not be happy with the decisions the board of directors or the local authority might make. The primary legislation defines how people are to be elected and who will do what. None of that is contained in the amendment. If, for example, tomorrow, there were local elections and the Deputy’s group, the Anti-Austerity Alliance, People Before Profit, was to win an overall majority on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, would he not have enough confidence in the ability of local members to organise their own work, or does he feel it is necessary for the Government to state they must do this in such a way? Does he believe all of the definitions, including the phrase "bona fide", in not even stating how they would be elected, would open the door to further confusion about who did what? If his party was elected and had a majority in the chamber, does he not believe it would be its right to determine how it should engage with the local community as opposed to it being decided by me in law?