Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

It strikes me that the kind of sentiment I hear in Dublin City Council in relation to the powers of councillors is being perpetuated here. Senator O'Meara has confirmed that North Tipperary County Council is no different from Dublin City Council. I fully support the Minister for the Environment and Local Government's plans for local government reform. Councillors have to be constantly reminded that they cannot have it both ways as reform takes place and more powers are conferred. They cannot have jam on both sides. If the Minister is to confer more powers on local authorities, councillors from all parties in all parts of the country must accept that such powers are accompanied by more responsibility.