Michael Brennan (Fianna Fail)

I too welcome the Minister to the House to discuss this legislation. Reform of local government is something every public representative welcomes. Many attempts have been made by successive Ministers to achieve this. Looking back on the past six Ministers for the Environment, it is true to say that under the two Fianna Fáil Ministers, Deputies Cullen and Noel Dempsey, local government reform has been started and much has been achieved to date.

Since the last local elections, local authority SPCs systems were introduced whereby public representatives worked together with community groups' representatives, management and sectional interests in the formation of policies at local authority level. We also recognise the role which dual mandate Members have played in the development of our local authorities. It is indeed a great honour, given by people at elections to public representatives, to serve and represent the electorate on a local authority. I deeply respect and treasure this honour given to me over the past 19 years by the people of County Limerick.

Under this legislation, the dual mandate will end in June 2004. I also treasure the greatest honour elected public representatives can get, that is, to be nominated as one of the Taoiseach's eleven. Senator Tuffy warned that we are on the way out, but I can assure the Opposition Members that the people on this side of the House have greater plans ahead for those Members as public representatives.

I ask the Minister to look seriously at the access which Oireachtas Members will have at local authority level. I refer to minutes and reports of council meetings and SPCs and a right of reply by county managers and staff to correspondence from Members. It was said that this will be done by directive. It is most important that the Minister take on board Members' concerns in that regard.