Brendan Ryan (Labour)

In so many ways the Government appears to have little confidence in councillors and has engaged in a long campaign to deprive them of powers using a range of Bills. One small way to reverse that trend would be to provide that, when the local authority is consulted under this section, making submissions would be a matter for councillors, not the manager. I note, however, the Minister of State's remarks in the context of the Bill and will not press the amendment.