Michael McCarthy (Labour)

We are not raising objections at the last minute. Who were the authors of that report? What is their expertise? How many local authorities were consulted? I presume if these reviews looked at all the issues, they would have taken on board all the points of local authority members throughout the country. I would be surprised if there were any support among local authority constituencies for this move.

The Minister of State is new to the Department, but I do not accept this is the last minute. This is Committee Stage of a Bill. We have already raised the issues on Second Stage and it is not the last minute.