Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the fact Senators endorse what I have done in the Bill. On the other issues, which, strictly speaking, are not dealt with by the Bill, I agree with the Senators. In particular, I agree with the last point on legal advice, which is a thorny issue on which I have engaged in debate. Local authority members have more powers than they sometimes realise in this regard. Unfortunately, local authority members lost a recent court case, perhaps because they were unwise in the direction they took during the case. However, that is a different day's work.

I agree with the point made by Senators Bannon and Kitt with regard to finance. My Department's website contains an increasing amount of comparative financial data for every local authority because councillors and Oireachtas Members need information if they are to react within the local government process. I am considering ways of increasing the information flow.

Senator Bannon will welcome the fact I have been giving consideration to a pet hobby horse of mine, namely, the issue of internal audit, which will ensure that we have efficiency. Local authority members, for all their talents, will need support in this regard. I am committed to this process. It will be an improvement that will give greater control in the direction of local government finance and will give taxpayers better value for money. I am seized of the importance of this issue and am working in that direction.