Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt there is nothing in it but I would like to hear the Minister's interpretation of the legislation to give effect to the nothingness within it in order for the local authorities and their members to provide for the local elections next year. The Government has a vast majority in this House and Deputy Hogan, as the Minister, has a right to make proposals in this regard. I do not dispute that and acknowledge the right. I acknowledge his election victory and the commitments he made, despite the fact that he will not live up to many of them. However, it is only right and fair, having described what he believes to be contained within the document and to be the considerable enabling powers for local authority members, that he make us aware of the detail of the legislation at his earliest convenience. It is on having investigated and interrogated it that I will be able to pass judgment. It is only then that I will be able to confirm and reaffirm the nothingness I believe will be within the document. Unfortunately, without the documentation and relevant legislation before the House, we cannot argue that specifically. I ask the Minister to inform the Houses when he will bring forward the relevant information in that regard. I expect it will be early in the new session considering that he has reneged on bringing it forward in this session.

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