John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I question the Minister's commitment to local government as he was so out of touch he could not understand the furore in Kilkenny in regard to the definition of cities in Schedule 5 of the Bill. How could he be so out of touch in regard to the pride, status, symbolism and heritage enshrined in the corporations of Kilkenny, Sligo, Clonmel, Wexford and Drogheda? I compliment the five mayors who waged a major campaign to force the Minister to give a commitment to retain the status of these corporations in the Bill. Perhaps he will indicate if an amendment will be introduced on Committee Stage to ensure the commitment given by him and the Taoiseach will be upheld.

Kilkenny was established as a town in 1230 and granted city status by King James in 1609. I acknowledge that in Cromwell's aftermath, the status of many places, including Kilkenny, was uncertain. However, Kilkenny received a second city charter in 1687 from King James. A royal charter signed by Queen Victoria in 1862 refers to the city of Kilkenny. In 2001, Deputy Hogan, now Minister for the Environment, Community and local Government, stated, "I want the status of the city of Kilkenny acknowledged by the Government on Second Stage tonight." At that time, he was telling the people of his county that he would stand up for what he believed in. He spoke about the public institutions, traditions and civic ceremonies of Kilkenny but this was before he was elected. Since then, he has changed his spots. He is now proposing major changes in local government, which he assures the people of Ireland will put people first. In terms of what he said in 2001 and the promises he is now making, why should the people believe him? If he misled his county in what he said in the Dáil in the debate of 2001 and burned the black and amber in the process, the promises he is now making in terms of putting local government first and having a better democratic representation at local level cannot be believed. Of course, breaking promises is nothing new in the context of this Government. There is little difference between the Labour Party's red kettle and Fine Gael's blue pot. Both are emitting huge clouds of obfuscatory steam while the people of Ireland are roasted on bonfires of taxes, indifference and political ineptitude.

In terms of the argument put forward in 2001 by Deputy Hogan, now Minister, this Bill completely ignores all of the commitment and time served by people who have gone before him, including people like Kieran Crotty who chaired Fine Gael's parliamentary party and Paul Cuddihy, mentioned by Deputy Hogan in 2001 as having made a sound contribution to the defence of city status and local democracy. Was he genuine about that defence? I do not believe he was. The cock that crowed three times for Peter must certainly be hoarse in relation to the Minister, Deputy Hogan.

To show how far since 2001 the Minister has moved from his beliefs, roots, history, community and defence of all that was good in local government, corporations and mayors, in answer yesterday to a parliamentary question from my colleague, Deputy Tom Fleming, he stated, "The Local Government Bill 2013 does not provide a special exemption for Kilkenny in relation to the position of its mayor." He has offered no defence for the city he represents or in relation to the comments he made in 2001 which are not reflected in this Bill. The title of "mayor" is one that can be adopted by anybody. It makes no difference, they are six a penny so we should ignore history, what was handed down to us and local democracy.

Westport town council and other councils throughout the country have made submissions which, by and large, have been ignored. Submissions have been made on a cross-party basis to defend local democracy and its job in representing people. The Minister has, by and large, ignored all of this.

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