Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Deputy Cassells and Fianna Fáil for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill. It is one of the most important Private Members' Bills to have been brought before the House. The last decision was based on blind arrogance on the part of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, which brought this before the House knowing that they had a massive majority and could do whatever they liked. They totally disregarded the great town councillors, many of whom have now gone to their eternal reward but who gave selflessly of their time to work for their communities. They were excellent people who were committed to their communities but they were disregarded by an arrogant Government which thought it could do whatever it liked.

Mr. Hogan did not save €1 by ripping the hearts out of communities. In Killarney, Listowel and Tralee, I admired and liked the town councillors, whether they were of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin or independents. I liked the way they operated, the effort they put into their work and how deeply committed they were to their communities but the disgraceful Fine Gael-Labour Party Government of arrogance did away with them.

I want to remind Members of something that is on the record on the Dáil and I believe I can repeat something a person said inside the House. They are the words of Phil Hogan as Minister. I was talking about great Fine Gael town councillors I had known. I said they were excellent, genuine people who worked very hard in their communities. I said they, their families and their supporters were extremely upset by what he was doing but the Minister, now Commissioner, said I could go back and tell them all that he was quaking in his boots. It was one of the worst attempts of arrogance I had seen in this House, as well as in the years before I came into the House. I was really shocked that night as he disregarded his own people.

I ask that the Government take on board this very sincere Private Members' Bill. I again thank Deputy Cassells and Fianna Fáil for bringing forward one of the finest Bills ever put before the House. They are marking the Government's card. If the Government will not deal with this issue, Fianna Fáil will. By God, I hope I will be here to support it in so doing. Neither I nor Fianna Fáil are saying that every town council should be reinstated but rather that town councils must earn the right to be brought back. In County Kerry, our town councils would be well able to display that they deserve to be reinstated because they made our towns what they are. The towns are vibrant. The councils brought them from the ground and built them up through hard work and co-operation across all parties. I again thank Deputy Cassells for bringing forward this very important Bill.

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