Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with the Deputy, because this is a big improvement on the current position. We are putting mechanisms in place to ensure people have information meetings and properly structured consultation on the issues of the day. Ultimately they will be able to meet their local elected representatives and make those concerns known to each individual local authority member in Leitrim or anywhere else. Following this, the councillors who are democratically elected - it is important to emphasise the phrase "democratically elected", meaning elected by all the people in each of the local authority areas - will be better informed and able to come to an informed decision. Obviously, all the views they would have heard from the public can be taken into account by the local elected member before coming to a final decision, and he or she can make that decision accordingly.

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