Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

Local government is the beating heart of democracy. That heart was torn out of democracy with the abolition of town and borough councils in 2014. They were replaced by committees with no powers, functions or funding. This has done serious damage to towns across the country. I welcome the recent announcement regarding a local government task force but there is widespread concern about its composition. It is heavily loaded in favour of individuals and bodies with existing connections to local government management. There are representatives of the chief executive officers, local government management and the local government audit service along with an assistant secretary from the Department. There is no representation from community organisations, residents' associations, tenants' organisations, staff, trade unions or chambers of commerce. Will the Taoiseach review the composition of that task force with a view to including these bodies?

See this speech in context