Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The council’s chief executive put forward the information that the Local Government Fund, the council’s main income source, was halved between 2008 and 2013 as a result of the collapse of the national finances. I read directly from the report, but changed the word "collapse" to "mismanagement". The Minister of State said the Minister met with the council and this is the point. He did not meet the council but the chief executive. He met a Deputy and Senator or Senators of the Government’s party after I had written to him. I was told about this meeting only after the event. Although I am old and experienced enough to handle disrespect from a Taoiseach or Minister, I will not tolerate the people who voted for me being disrespected by the failure on the part of the Minister, Deputy Kelly, or any Minister to engage with those with whom he might disagree. If the Minister wants nodding dashboard dogs to discuss any contentious issue, so be it, but the Minister of State should not call it a democratic revolution or an improvement in democracy. It is not democracy, but dictatorship.

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