James Bannon (Fine Gael)

It is out of place to expect this House to give the Local Government Bill 2003 a Second Reading given that it not only flies in the face of democracy as we know it but also asks us to sign our own death warrants in terms of local representation. Currently, nearly two thirds of the Members of this House are also members of local authorities.

The Bill focuses on the abolition of the dual mandate but makes no adequate provision for the way Members of the Oireachtas will represent their constituents in respect of local matters, should it be passed. It is not accompanied by any real reform of the local authority system and fails to provide for a radical overhaul of the way services are provided and delivered. Statutory regulations, not guidelines, are imperative to direct local authorities on how they conduct their business with Oireachtas Members. Such regulations should have been published with the Bill.