Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I have listened carefully to the Senator. I do not intend to engage in a long discussion. I have been kind and reasonable in saying that I understand that the purpose of the amendment is to generate debate, but it represents a simplistic, puerile attempt. The references in the amendment do not mean anything. I have given credit where it is due, but let us not pretend that it would make any difference to accept it. These are substantive issues. As I sit on a Cabinet sub-committee which deals with this subject and because of other reasons, I get intensely annoyed with so many good bodies that are in receipt of huge sums of money and have no accountability to anybody, yet we are supposed to have a local government structure.

The roles of the county and city councillors, who are the final arbiters at local level, will not change to adhere to what Senator Bannon is suggesting if the amendment is accepted. However, everyone in the House agrees with the principle of moving in that direction. Fine Gael has published a policy document in the past 24 or 48 hours. It is only the starting point according to the Senator's leader and the party wants to flesh it out. I look forward to that and welcome it. It represents an important contribution and will certainly inform my thought process. I hope we will be dealing with these issues when we return with a substantive Bill.

Amendment put and declared lost.