Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We talk about joined-up thinking. For years, this has been a success. Roscommon has liaised with Westmeath in terms of both councils. They have worked perfectly together. Roscommon is well capable of looking after planning and doing whatever thinking has to be done. It needs to be left in Roscommon's care.

One thing that is mentioned in the reply is different services. The main medical centre for all of that area is in Monksland and it covers parts of south Roscommon. What is the Government going to do? Will it have people from south Roscommon going to Westmeath to get care, and leave out Ballinasloe or Roscommon town? This is the kind of thing that is going on.

At the end of the day, with all due respect to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, he can talk about independent bodies or whoever he wants. It is still stated clearly in his reply that while the review body will come back and give its decision, it is for a Minister to decide whether it goes ahead or not. Those are the simple facts. The legislation will come through the House but it is for a Minister to decide to bring it in. The current Minister has it in his gift to turn around and stall the whole thing. He would be very well placed to do that coming up to an election and he should do so.

This is not about politics. Across the political divide, there is one united front in Roscommon. Everyone is in full support of each other and all are saying this is a ludicrous measure and it must be stopped. I ask the Minister of State to bring the message back to the Minister, Deputy Kelly that in the next week or two, before the Taoiseach goes to Áras an Uachtaráin, he should call a stop to this.

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