Denis Landy (Labour)

I support the motion and I commend the Independent group for tabling it. Like all the Independent group of Senators I am a new Senator. My frustration has been great in recent weeks due in part to my difficulty in getting used to the process here and my view that much of what happens here is very much stage managed. I am used to local government where I spent 23 and a half years and where spontaneous debate was often the best debate. I support what has been said in general, but I wish to make a few specific points about representation and the understanding and involvement of local government within the process to introduce some changes and innovation into the role of the Seanad.

Forty-three Members of this House have been elected by county and city councillors, of which there are 883 in total. We go out to seek their votes over an eight to ten-week period and then we basically forget about them in terms of their input into this House or their input into legislation relevant to them or to their work in local government. They have no input into legislation because this is not permitted by law. On some occasions they may make submissions on legislation if it is relevant to local government and depending on the Minister in the Custom House, they may get a hearing once a year when the three associations representing councillors are called up and brought in for the proverbial chat. However, beyond that, there is no input from local government into what happens in this country, albeit that democracy starts at local government level. I am delighted the Independent group had seven meetings across the country and they had meetings on the political system because the system begins with local government. The failure of this House and the Lower House to include local government in the workings of democracy is a major failure.

I contrast this situation with that in Spain. A minister for territorial policy advises and assists all local authorities in Spain on economic matters. He issues reports relevant to local government, contributes to the relations between central government, local government and NGOs. In France, for example, a variety of mechanisms exist to enable the government to consult local authorities about proposed regulatory provisions through an informal consultation process with the national elected members associations, to reform a mandatory consultation process involving specialised committees instituted by legislative provisions. For example, any changes in the provision of water by the Spanish Government have to be agreed and signed off at local government level before they can be initiated.

I have several proposals which I ask the Independent group of Senators to take on board and on which to give their views. There should be formal and informal arrangements to consult elected members at town and county council levels on all legislation relevant to local government. The programme for Government currently allows discussions and consultations with MEPs. I propose that this should be extended to include the representatives of local government, the town and county councillors.