Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I welcome the publication of the Green Paper on local government. Many of us have awaited its publication with bated breath. However, on an initial reading of it, I am very disappointed to see that it contains a great deal of rhetoric. It promises much and I am looking forward to a debate on its contents. There are many issues of interest in the paper. One suggestion is that there be directly elected mayors, a concept which should be examined. However, if it applies to Dublin, what will happen to the management system that is currently in place? There is no detail in the document and as we all know, the devil is in the detail.