Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to speak in this debate. I looked up the record because I heard my constituency colleague, Deputy Penrose, had spoken last night. My heart lifted because he stated he did not agree with the motion. I thought again of it as another factor in the famous Mullingar accord when all was sweetness and light in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath. Everybody was beaming at one another, and Labour loved Fine Gael and Fine Gael loved Labour, until they started to work out their policies. Deputy Penrose clearly stated he was not in favour of the motion and would not be supporting it.

Likewise, I found myself in accord with the esteemed Deputy who spoke before me as she outlined what local government does for a local region. Of course Deputy Kathleen Lynch is correct. Local authorities, be they town councils or county councils, are what keeps the place afloat.

I always remember from my years on local authorities that one was told the local authority is responsible for lighting, sewerage, water and housing, and therefore all that they do must be paid for by somebody. Of course we all would wish that there were no rates on this or that, but that is what I call voodoo economics, of the kind put forward in this motion. Who is to pay the county council workers? Who is to keep the streets swept? Who is to bring out the fire brigade when the call comes in the middle of the night? Who is to pay the men on the fire brigade?

As Deputy Lynch stated, the community employment schemes, which were beneficial in local authority areas, no longer exist. At a recent meeting with the county manager - every three months he meets the Oireachtas Members of the constituency which is extremely helpful - we were brought up to date and saw the economies which must be introduced in the local authorities to enable even a tiny core of local authority workers to be kept in employment.

Who is to pay for the running of one's town or county? The chambers of commerce and all those worthy bodies would wish that there were no rates. In fact, over the past decade there have been only minute increases in the commercial rates in most rateable local authority areas because they have sought to keep them in line knowing how difficult is the business environment.

It is hugely daunting for anyone setting up a business or being in a business but one does not address this by chopping the nose off everybody who is working in a county council and taking away their income at one fell swoop. It is a silly proposition. I suppose the proposers of the motion meant well. The previous Deputy was trying to be sweet but I have no inclination to be sweet about it. I cannot understand the motivation behind it.

Equally, while I am on my feet - the Acting Chairman will say it is not the issue but I will say it anyway - all of the Fine Gael Senators are lauding the great courage of Deputy Kenny in saying that he would abolish the Seanad. I saw no courage in that. I would see great courage if he said he would support the Government in the difficult task we face in the budget on 9 December. Telling a poor, hapless group of Senators that they are to be abolished did not require mammoth efforts of courage or determination. In the rush to get the headlines, he had to go one better than the Deputy Gilmore. One would get dizzy looking at their deeds of daring, except they are not daring but stupid.

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