Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The whole purpose is the empowerment of councillors. Councillors have been told that they are responsible for their own development plans. They must now review those plans and take on board the guidelines. I will not override the councillors' role in the matter. I was happy to listen to all the bodies, including the General Council of County Councils, LAMA, the Rural Dwellers Association, An Taisce and everyone who has spoken over the past 18 months on this. As the Senator well knows, I had intended to publish these guidelines before Christmas, but the General Council of County Councils asked me to delay that so that it could make a submission, and I gracefully acceded to its wish. It was not my timing that brought them out; I acted on that basis. I have now moved ahead on the basis that all the discussions have taken place——