I was a member of Dublin City Council for about 17 years and I fully share Senator MacSharry's concern that local authorities must be properly resourced to carry out the wide range of functions entrusted to them. It goes without saying that without resources, little can be achieved. It goes without saying also that if resources were unlimited, local government could justifiably and effectively spend significantly more in improving the range, depth and quality of the services they provide to the public. However, as every Member of this House will be only too aware, resources have always been and will always be limited. Hard choices, therefore, will always have to be made.