Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will get an opportunity to speak later, but I am speaking now. The views of councillors and Members have been totally ignored in the Government's effort to bulldoze this Bill through.

We also need to include in the Bill the local authority changes in west Cork where, up to now, nobody who has been elected to represent the people has been allowed a say. The hinterland of Clonakilty, from Ring to Timoleague, including Courtmacsherry, Lislevane, Darrara and Butlerstown, reverts to the west Cork municipal district. Ring village is only two miles from the town of Clonakilty. It makes no sense to move it to the Bandon-Kinsale district. People in these areas made submissions opposing this change, as did I. We have not been listened to or consulted. The findings have been made by the independent commission, which is astonishing to say the least. The Minister of State does not have to agree to these findings and I ask him, if he has any respect for democracy, to refuse to agree to their findings.

We also need to reinstate all the town councils in County Cork that were abolished in 2013. Some of the decisions of the current and previous Governments on rural Ireland beggar belief.

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