Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I am not supposed to talk about these things but I have a passion for local government. I was elected 37 years ago. I was fairly young at the time. We have seen much legislation pass in that time. I think what the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has done is exemplary. It is about strengthening local government. We have to accept that we have appallingly weak local government in many places across the country. Much of the legislation that has passed has distorted the balance between elected members and the executive, to the point that the executive now has the preponderance of authority and power. Many councils have far too many elected members, such that one could not possibly hope to get a consensus on anything. I salute the Minister of State on what he is doing. Long may he keep at it.

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