Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State has said it is the desire of every Minister and every Member to ensure that local authorities follow best practice and that if they do not follow it currently, they will establish it. However, the amendment put forward by Deputy Ellis proposes a tenant can "request" the presence of an authorised advocate. What in the name of God could be wrong with putting this into the legislation? Its inclusion would encourage best practice across the country. The only reason for refusing to include this provision, would be to facilitate the local authorities that do not want to engage with representatives or advocates on behalf of people who need assistance. That is the only reason this could be excluded. If it is part of best practice that those requesting assistance can bring that assistance with them and if the Minister of State refuses to include that in the legislation, she is de facto saying that she will not go along with developing best practice, because part of the agenda is to keep out elected Members or advocates and allow the local authorities to continue to deal with people, however vulnerable they may be, on a face to face basis.

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