Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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While I agree with Dr. Cohen, I do not believe what she says is true. I believe that within local democracy, there is very strong leadership from councillors throughout this country. That is why individuals top the poll all of the time. It is because they are delivering. It can be a councillor who drives projects across the line. I have seen it in many communities throughout this country, be they from parties or Independents. Strong leadership is very important when people are voting. If somebody says they can do something, they can deliver and they have a track record of delivery, people will continue to vote for those individuals who are strong leaders. Those strong leaders do exist within communities.

I totally disagree with Dr. Cohen that an individual cannot deliver within local government. My colleagues around this table have extremely active county councillors throughout the country who are delivering individual projects within their own communities. I refer to the community centres, recreational parks and facilities, and health centres if they are members of a health forum. There is a lot people can do with strong leadership. Sometimes it does take strong leadership to get through all the red tape that exists within local government or national government.

We need strong leadership and it very much exists in local government currently, not in all communities but in certain communities around the country where there are very many active, strong, Independent and party councillors driving projects. That is why they top the polls again and again in their communities. My colleagues might disagree with me on that but I believe there is a lot of strong leadership within local government. More needs to be done on how we get the citizen to engage when it comes to European citizenship.