Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody who contributed to this debate. This being Private Members' business, the Bill has had one of the largest number of Members contributing that I can remember in recent times. Everybody in the House has an affinity to the democratic system. We all strive in our own ways to try to make it better. There have been various attempts to do so, including by me during my tenure more than two decades ago in the Custom House when I produced the Better Local Government plan. The idea then was not only to strengthen local government but to link it to community activity for the first time. There was great resistance to the notion that unelected community groups should be involved in strategic policy committees and in shaping policy, although the majority of every committee would be, of course, the elected members.

The former Minister, Phil Hogan, also produced plans, in respect of which I do not attribute any malice to him. There have been various contributions to this debate, most of which were very constructive and measured. There are some Members from whom one never expects anything more than vitriol and they never disappoint. I am taken aback by the ungraciousness and lack of generosity in the comments of Deputy Cassells. It is important for politicians to recognise that mistakes were made and to come into this House and say that and to change their minds. As I said in my opening contribution, up to last night I had spent three days in Liverpool trying to persuade the British people to think again about what I believe is a grievous mistake in Brexit. We must have the ability to say that we should think again on the basis of how things work out. Whatever the merits people argued for a more integrated type of local government, it has not worked.

I would like to make a couple of points on the contributions of the Ministers of State, Deputies English and Phelan. The Minister of State, Deputy English, said that the municipal system is working. It is not, although I acknowledge that the revised boundaries will improve matters. We all know our own areas best. The new municipal district of Wexford, which is essentially Wexford town and its immediate environs, will be immeasurably better than the old one which encompassed one-quarter of the county because as people from Kilmore Quay to Rosslare Harbour had no affinity to the town and mayors elected from those areas had no urban tradition, it did sunder the district. There needs to be an urban driver. While I acknowledge that an attempt has been made in the new boundaries to bring about improvements, I believe we need to have a stand-alone urban council and not one that is merely a sub-committee of the greater county council, which is what it is now.

I am anxious to have this Bill enacted and I am determined to ensure it proceeds. I acknowledge the campaigning work of Deputy Cassells on the issue but his Bill did not seek to create the new councils. If this Bill is passed new councils will be created. Deputy Cassells's Bill sought to create a process that would consider the creation of the councils, which was welcome and we supported it. There will be a lot of work to be done on this Bill in Committee if it passes Second Stage. I would like to see this legislation in place in time for the next local elections. This is not an impossible task. The Minister of State, Deputy English, also said that Government proposes to commission another report on the issue, but that will probably be subject to a further report. This is not the way to deal with this critical issue. We want a debate. If the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, wants a debate then let us set aside a Friday or a Monday for a full debate on local government issues. I would be delighted to map out my own time to contribute to such debate and I am sure all Deputies who spoke this evening would do likewise.

On the contribution of the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, I think the Minister will regret talking about the patronage issue. I believe that was unfortunate.

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