Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Minister, with his distinguished local government career, is acquitting himself extremely well in office. The former Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Noel Dempsey, recognised the contribution of local councillors by providing — correctly — that they receive a reasonable level of remuneration. His successor, the current Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, removed the dual mandate, a measure I opposed at the time, although I have since become a convert. Today, for example, two local council meetings which I would not have been able to attend will be held in County Roscommon. Able councillors in the county will deal with the matters which arise.

The formation of the regional health forums is a welcome development. I attended the inaugural meeting of the Western Health Forum yesterday at which the Fianna Fáil Party candidate, Aidan Colleary, was elected chairperson with the support of the Labour Party, while Labour Party councillor, Kieran Walsh, was elected vice-chairperson with the support of the Progressive Democrats Party. We, in the west, have formed a new coalition of the Fianna Fáil, Labour and Progressive Democrats parties under what is known as the "Merlin Park accord". It is a new beginning for the region.