Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I commend Senator O'Toole on his remarks today and yesterday on the current pay negotiations. If we have learned anything in the past ten years, it is that partnership works and no one has all the wisdom or answers. It is ridiculous for the Government and congress to demonise each other. I am confident that if they work together and reach an agreement in the coming days, it will help us along the road to the recovery, to which we all aspire.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, to the House for a debate on the future of local government. The Minister clearly has views on the issue, given that the revised programme for Government envisages the establishment of a new tier of local government. While this is all well and good and I commend the Minister on being creative and progressive, as always, the downside is that an air of uncertainty is creeping into councils, particularly town councils, the future of which is very much in doubt. My colleague, Senator Glynn, raised this matter recently. This air of uncertainty has spread to other councils and bodies associated with councils such as vocational education committees. Uncertainty does not make for best practice. I am relaying to the Leader concerns expressed to me not only by elected members from around the country but also management and senior staff in councils. We must tease out this issue and let the man see the monkey. There is no better place than the Seanad to have a debate before certain drastic decisions are taken.