John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:"recognises the need to put in place effective and sustainable local government arrangements in Cork and notes the action being pursued to achieve this, and further recognises the need for a National Planning Framework to set an overall long-term strategic planning framework for growth and change in Ireland, including our rural areas, building on the Action Plan for Rural Development and based on a core objective to reverse decline and create new opportunities for rural and small town growth, in terms of people, jobs and infrastructure."

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. I thank Deputy Michael Collins and his colleagues for raising it. We have not had an opportunity before in a plenary session of the Dáil to have a discussion this matter.

I compliment the local authority staff in Cork city and county, and indeed throughout the country, on doing such a fine job yesterday and today and who are doing so tonight as we speak - before, during and after Storm Ophelia. It is often only when things go wrong that local government gets coverage. In this case, however, the local authorities have done a fine job and I compliment them on their work.

On the issues raised by Deputy Michael Collins and his colleagues, I assure the House that I am not personally in favour of such things as land grabs or money grabs.

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