Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As today is Michael Collins's birthday, we should remember one of the founding fathers of the State as a man who risked his life on numerous occasions before eventually giving his life for his country. If he were still alive he would be 122 years old today.

I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would welcome a debate on local government reform. I congratulate the Minister on his initiative. It has taken 114 years to introduce proper local government reform. He displayed courage in the way he brought his proposals to the Cabinet. He has received agreement on legislation and will be bringing it before both Houses of the Oireachtas. We should welcome a debate on this issue because all politics is local and local government is the closest level to our constituents.

Senator Darragh O'Brien seems to know a lot more than many of us about some of the issues he mentioned.