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

Yes, please. I was not aware that we were finished. I thank the Deputies who contributed. To reiterate, it is the intention of Government to devolve as much power as possible from the hands of the executive to the hands of elected people. I take on board what most of the speakers have said, which is that it might be better to focus on a few strategic areas first rather than going for the big bang approach. There is some merit in that proposal. It is my absolute ambition that, if the plebiscites pass and the roles work in the relevant local authorities, the head of each local authority in the country will be directly elected by the people.

Deputy Farrell suggested earlier that Deputy O'Dowd be mayor of Drogheda. These offices should be positions to which Oireachtas Members or Ministers would aspire because they would be powerful roles. In many respects the happiest days I have had in my 20 years in politics were the four and a half years I spent as a member of Kilkenny County Council dealing with matters such as Deputy Lahart's roundabout. These matters are crucially important. The Deputy is right. An issue like that might seem small, mundane and almost trivial but it can be the biggest issue affecting the people concerned when they come into contact with their local representative.

Deputy Cassells was the first speaker. He was very angry today, but as he went further into his-----

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