Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I only saw the last 20 minutes of the programme because the Dáil adjourned late last night. Some of what was highlighted was scandalous. It shows a major fall-down. The thinking to date has been that local government is local government; it is separate. There is a local government auditor and there are audit committees on each local authority that are charged with overseeing these. The abuses highlighted in the programme by officials and former officials do a disservice to local government. It is very unfair to the officials in the local authorities who are there working every day. The councillors have to deal with the public on these matters and the vast majority stand for election and are elected to do their best in their own local area and county. The committee can schedule a discussion with the local authorities. I suggest that a representative of the County and City Management Association be present and a representative from the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, which is the new body representing local authorities. It would be very important for it to be represented, if it is agreed.