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- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
Pat Casey: I thank the Chair and welcome everybody here this morning. It was great to hear from four former Ministers of local government and having served in local government for 12 years, it is probably the most rewarding position in the sense that you are closest to the public and are answering their day-to-day issues. I have seen a lot of changes over that 12 years and since that are not positive...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
Pat Casey: In respect of giving powers back to councillors in making tough decisions, that could equally be applied to national level as well. People run away from tough decisions. As for future financing, whether VAT, an overnight tax or whatever it is, the problem is not the tax. The problem is the lack of accountability for what that delivers on the ground. When we see visible delivery of what...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
Pat Casey: ...play to Carlow County Council, which has 50:50 representation. Wicklow County Council has a significantly long way to go. Wicklow County Council ended 2019 with probably the highest female participation but, sadly, three female councillors have vacated their seats and been replaced with male councillors. The issue falls into the whole situation of security and social media. That...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
..., but I am still here. I am here because, at the end of the day, people put faith in me to be here. No one will bully me out of doing what I am doing. The fact of the matter is that I did not come here for a pat on the back. I came here because I think the decision to take town councils away from local people was a disaster. It was not done by online trolls. It was not done by...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
Pat Casey: I thank everyone for their contributions. Having served as a councillor for 12 years, I know exactly where they are coming from. From my time since 2004, we have seen a significant erosion of powers. Councillors Gearóid Murphy, Seán O'Donovan and Michael Sheehan brought up the point about privilege and commercial rates. They are two very simple, easy wins we could take out of...
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)
Pat Casey: I will give it my best. We all know the Whip system. Some people are in a position where they can get out of the Whip system, but it is there. My party met a significant number of councils prior to Christmas. We met the IALG. We were asked to do something specifically by the IALG and we got a commitment from the Minister on the floor of the House when the Bill came before us in January...