Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

In speaking about this issue on Committee Stage yesterday, I said that, whatever about Oireachtas Members and MEPs, the exclusion of local councillors from such bodies is disgraceful. It is an affront to democracy to debar local councillors from this authority and other State boards. Councillors have a vast amount of experience in road safety and other areas. They are responsible for setting speed limits and for roads in their areas. It is disgraceful to decide, with one stroke of the pen, that they are not qualified to serve on bodies such as the road safety authority.

I hope the Minister of State will agree to the amendment, which has been genuinely supported by Members on the Government side of the House. This is a matter of principle that affects each and every one of us. Why are local representatives, who are elected by the people, being debarred from these boards? That is the question that must be asked. If this policy is passed by the House this evening, will it apply in future to every other board? I ask the Minister of State to concede the point, since he said he had been a member of a local authority for many years. If it is decided that members of local authorities are not qualified, it is a poor day for democracy.