David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am pressing these amendments. Given that some of the functions that may be transferred are currently key local government functions, the Government should ensure the local authorities and the Members of this House are properly consulted. The reserved and executive functions that form part of the infrastructure of local government are important. It is only right that there should be democratic input into any decision that could remove power, however slight, from local government. As I said on Second Stage, if we continue to take power from local authorities, there might not be much local government left. It is intended to take responsibility for water services away from local authorities. A number of other plans are in train as well. Many people are asking what services local authorities will end up providing if we keep hollowing out what they do. I appreciate that this section of the Bill does not deal directly with that. We are concerned that as a result of this Bill, the potential will exist for some powers to be removed from local authorities and subsumed into national organisations. I fail to see why the Minister of State cannot accept that the Members of this House and of the Dáil are elected to make sure the decisions that are made are scrutinised properly. It is inappropriate to give the Minister of the day a free hand to make any decisions he or she deems necessary - in this case, shifting powers around - without having to consult this House or the Dáil. I ask the Minister of State to consider the points I have made. If she is not willing to do so, I will have to call a vote on these amendments.