Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I was constantly pushed towards consultants who were required to do this and that. The decision-makers are reneging on their responsibilities. In case there is trouble later on they want to be able to say they made the decision on the basis of a report by such and such a consultant. Local authorities must take power back into their own hands and make the decisions in these matters.

A significant difficulty for local authorities is the question of funding. Income from planning levies - a gravy train in recent years - has now disappeared. Instead they must retain very high rates. Rents in the State have generally fallen by 50% - mine certainly have - but rates have increased. In Dublin city centre, where I have some commercial units, rates have gone up by 5% in each of the last three years whereas rental income has continued to decline. There is no linkage between rates and the markets. Unfortunately, local authorities throughout the country are facing funding shortfalls. We have the most poorly funded local government in Europe and the entire structure must be changed. I am in favour of giving local authorities a percentage of income tax collected and letting people see exactly where their money goes in return for the services they receive locally.

Returning to the issue of Dáil reform, one Member remarked last night that this is not a debating Chamber but a legislative Chamber. However, legislative work requires effective debate. Deputy Joe Costello threw cold water on the motion put forward by the Technical Group in Private Members' time this week. I find that a strange approach. We were not claiming to have all the answers but we wanted to put ideas out for debate. Our proposals are worth talking about. None of us has all the answers and the 166 Members of the House should be willing to discuss issues and to learn from one another.

I agree with other speakers that Dáil attendance rates are a cause for concern. There are more schoolchildren in the Visitors Gallery most of the time than there are Members in the Chamber. The children must look down and wonder where we all are. I do not watch television and had never seen coverage of the Chamber before I was elected. The greatest shock to me since coming to the House is the number of Members who desert the place after the Order of Business. One would think a fire alarm had been set off.

We must work towards accountability, transparency and democracy. The people want a say in how the country is governed. They put 166 Deputies in this Houses in order to have an impact on governance. If we are going to have half a dozen people running the country while the majority of Members are mere spectators who get to have their say but without any effect, it is a false process.

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