David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

We should have a full debate on local government reform in Ireland. If something is broken, it should be fixed rather than added to. This Bill is a smokescreen and is adding to the problem. We should have a proper debate on local government. This Government has only a few weeks left in office. It is wrong for a Government on the way out to impose this on people. This ludicrous suggestion should be parked so that we can have a proper debate on local and national government in Ireland. The new Government, of whichever hue, should take this up. This Bill will make reform more difficult and I call on all right-minded Deputies to vote against it. They should do something sensible for once. This applies particularly to Deputies representing Dublin. We need a national debate on local government reform. We should not put a band aid on when it will make no difference. It will cost a lot of money and represents another layer of bureaucracy.

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