James Bannon (Fine Gael)

Until tonight I thought local government was an essential element in the democratic state – the machinery by which important services are provided. The Minister has stamped on and smothered local government by taking powers away from the elected members and giving them to the manager, who is being allowed to dictate to them. Councillors are most vexed and angered by what is taking place. How would the Minister like it if officials from his Department took over and ran the Department of the Environment and Local Government?