Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution on the Bill. I am reminded by the tail end of Deputy Deasy's contribution that I spent happy days as a member of Dublin County Council and South Dublin County Council. I hope the Acting Chairman enjoyed his time as a councillor also. I was elected in 1991 for the then Tallaght-Rathcoole electoral area of the then full Dublin County Council, which was not broken up until three or four years later. When I was first elected, we went straight into the eye of the storm with regard to the development plan. There was much controversy and we are often reminded of those times. At the same time, it was a very important learning experience for me. I took every opportunity to consider these issues, and I am glad I did so.

The Acting Chairman will know I live and work in Tallaght, which is the third largest population centre in the country.

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