John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House again. I will try to be brief and avoid rehashing the words of other speakers. I would be in dereliction of my duty as a councillor and as a Senator elected by councillors were I not to voice my concern about and disapproval of the section of the Bill which transfers to managers powers in the area of waste management charges, which have been held by councillors until now. I am particularly disappointed that the Minister, who was a councillor and whose family has long been involved in local government in Waterford, is presiding over a proposal which seeks to dilute further the role councillors play in local democracy.