Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

To put things in context, that would be a surplus appointment given the cost of management of local authorities. The Lord Mayors of Dublin and Cork are doing an excellent job. I have never heard any complaints about the conduct of mayors. Having the position rotated every year brings in people with fresh ideas and new attitudes.

I commend the Minister on the overall thrust of what he said, though not in relation to the abolition of the dual mandate. I support this provision. We do not need a change in Dublin and Cork. It is too costly to experiment with the idea of directly elected mayors. That is a ridiculous way of doing business.