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

I join the Minister in paying tribute to and thanking the staff of the Department for their work in putting this Bill before the House and their work thereon as it passed through the Houses. I thank them for acquiescing to the wishes of Members and the Minister. I thank the Minister for the manner in which he conducted affairs during the passage of the Bill through the Houses. Many amendments have been made, not only in response to our requests but also to those of the various representative bodies outside the House. I compliment the Minister on his forbearance in regard to these issues.

As I said on Second Stage, we do not necessarily agree with the thrust of the Bill. While it is well intended, we would have proceeded very differently. We are fearful of the impact of the legislation on local democracy. That is a matter for another day, and it was for another day. We have put on record our opposition to the legislation in that context. That said, we recognise the mandate of the Government and its ability to pass legislation. With that in mind, we have sought to be as constructive, fair and reasonable as possible in seeking to put forward the views of those we represent. We sought to make the legislation as friendly as possible to the representatives who will be expected to implement it and work within its confines.

I wish the legislation well and hope, contrary to many opinions, that it is constructive, not only for those who will work with it but also for the staff in local authorities, who face a big challenge with the amalgamations. Ultimately, I hope the legislation will be of benefit to the people we represent - namely, the people who wish to avail of the services of local authorities. I look forward to a review of the legislation by a committee and Parliament over the coming years. I am particularly conscious of the oversight role of the Department in reviewing the performance of the legislation against its intention. I commend everybody associated with the Bill and hope it is successful. While I do not necessarily agree with its content, I will be the first to admit it if I am proven wrong and it is a success for the Government.

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