Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 9, to delete lines 9 to 19.

Amendments No. 5 proposes, "In page 9, to delete lines 9 to 19" and amendment No. 6 proposes "In page 12, to delete line 1". This section envisages removing local authority directors and reducing board membership such that the user representative will also be removed. We were persistent in making these points on earlier Stages. They are well documented on the record so much so that those documenting them must have nearly run out of ink.

In amendment No. 6 we oppose section 11(c) which deletes section 30(6) of the principal Act. The existing section 30(6) provides that local authority members can be members of harbour authorities. I wish that provision to remain in place as it is an intrinsic part of local democracy. We are approaching the holding of local elections. We will be pontificating to people — I say that respectfully — about the merits and, possibly, demerits of local government. People in every jurisdiction in this country if they are on the electoral register, which I presume will be correct on this occasion, will be entitled to elect city councillors, town councillors and county councillors. That is a fundamental tenet of our democracy and something I greatly value. Many Members would not be here but for that fundamental basic principle of our democratic system. The local authority is an important element of our democracy.

My experience of serving in local government commenced when I was elected to a county council at 22 years of age, some ten years ago. I served on the same local authority as Senator O'Donovan. I was lucky enough to be chairman of its western division on two occasions and also to be its vice chairman. I also served on the coiste gairmoideachais, County Cork VEC. I treasure and value local democracy. The work that councillors do in local authorities in many ways is underrated and there are not sufficient supports in place for them.

If this section of the legislation is enacted, it will be anti-democracy and represent an assault on local government. I thank the Minister of State for attending today and his continued persistence in dealing with the Bill and presence during the debates on it. It must have been as tedious for him as it was for some of us. I urge him to take note of the comments of those of us who have been engaged in consultation on this measure. Consultation was a feature of this legislation and we have consulted widely on it.

There is a general view across party politics that transcends party affiliations in regard to councillors who serve on the boards of port companies. The two representatives from my county council who serve on Port of Cork Company, Mr. Kevin Murphy and Mr. Michael Hegarty, are excellent examples in terms of giving public service. They are fine councillors elected by their people in their respective jurisdictions in south and east Cork. It is not necessary to remove people such as those representatives from the board of the Port of Cork Company or any other board of a port company. To do so would represent an assault on democracy. I urge the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, to take on board this amendment.