Denis Landy (Labour)

I spent seven years representing the Labour Party on the committee of the regions. It is an arm of the European project based in Brussels which represents all local and regional government throughout Europe. Its purpose is to consult local and regional authorities across Europe on any proposals from the EU which would be relevant to them.

As somebody who sat on it for seven years and initiated a number of opinions on various issues that would eventually affect Ireland, I find it very disheartening to see that within the system of legislation here local government is left out. Several things can be done. We can include local government. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú when he said that when anything is asked here that does not conform to the norm it is referred to the CPP when we know that it is constrained by the Standing Orders of the House in terms of what it can do. Effectively, we are getting a "no", but a delayed "no".

We have to examine that process. We have to ensure that if we want to raise issues such as were raised earlier today that we can find a mechanism to do that. There needs to be a radical shake-up of the procedures within the House to allow for these debates to go ahead, for the processes in which they can go ahead and to make this House relevant to ordinary citizens, starting at local town councils where people elect councillors through to county councils and city councils. That is just one important element. I support anything else that has been said.