Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

We debated this matter earlier. The precedent we were following emanates from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act, 1997, and also the Western Development Commission. These do not require that membership of a local authority precludes a person from becoming a member of the board. The Bill is similar in that it deals with the particular locality. It is important that local councillors, who would be well placed to make a contribution, should be given the opportunity to be on the authority or a sub-committee of the authority. From that point of view, I am not prepared to accept the amendments.