Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Abdication is never democracy. This is a responsibility for local councillors. They must take it and make hard decisions about raising money and delivering local services. They have to make choices. If one wants true local democracy people have to make choices based on the resources available. The management system we have at present is tilted too much in favour of the management and against the democratic wishes of elected members. I am going to change that.

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