Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I join with my fellow Kerryman, Senator Coghlan, in acknowledging the achievement of the Kerry tourism industry and the great work done by the Senator himself for Muckross House and Killarney House.

I have an 11th-hour appeal to the Leader. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, is to address the conference of town councils in Cavan on Friday and I fear he will not bring good news. The Government's position on the future of local government in this country has been very well leaked, like everything else in the Cabinet, it is sent out and people suck it and see. Those in the Cabinet might change their minds, as occurred with the septic tank issue. I appeal to the Leader to speak to the Minister before Friday as there was an article on the front page of the Mail on Sunday, obviously very well informed, which spells doom for town councils. It seems that over 100 years of history is to be wiped away by the Minister. Not only that but he appears to be stepping back from what was mooted as a compromise of urban-based sub-councils.

He seems to be proposing to reduce the number of county councils and councillors. We will finish up with large towns run by remote control by an officer of the county council or through a system like the old town commissioners, which were dreaded long ago. Whenever a council was abolished a commissioner was sent in and the local people could have no redress as they had to deal with unelected people. It would be a big blow for democracy in this country. We have already seen that our own Chamber is under threat so where will it end? We will rue the day we dismantle our democratic institutions.

I ask the Leader to contact the Minister immediately and ask him to pull back. The Minister showed that he could listen to the voice of the people on the septic tank issue to a certain extent and it may not be too late to save democracy in this country.