Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I feel strongly about this particular issue. I do not say this in a political way but if we are to have any respect for public representatives we must give them a role. There will be no respect for public representation at local level if it is not given a meaningful role. Many of the actions identified in that report such as the funding of endeavours that should not be funded, do not come from local government. They come from central government without proper procedures being adopted. There is no virtue in going over that at this stage.

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