Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I did not get an opportunity to speak yesterday, I welcome the outcome of Friday’s referendum and look forward to working with colleagues on the way forward for this House.

I join Senators Ned O’Sullivan, Denis Landy and Cáit Keane in calling on the Leader to inquire of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, where stands the legislation on local government reform and the proposed changes contained in the Labour Party's Putting People First document. The Minister’s proposals will see the movement of councillor numbers from the west to the east, yet again depriving rural Ireland of the proper representation to which it is entitled. As Senator Ned O’Sullivan alluded to, local government is fast becoming non-local government under the Minister. County Cavan has an electoral area stretching from Blacklion on the border with County Fermanagh and County Donegal to beyond Cavan town, almost 40 miles of countryside. Such an area size will not facilitate local government, a fact of which the Leader and other colleagues are aware. I would welcome clarification from the Minister of what he intends to do to local government. Does he intend to leave the town councils as they are? Does he intend to leave councillor numbers as they are and not reduce the number in County Cavan by seven? Only for the Labour Party, the Minister was trying to rush the legislation through both Houses. That is not good enough - so much for political reform.

On a positive note, I welcome the Minister's input in resolving the Priory Hall issue and the progress made in that regard. The affected residents are considering the proposals recently put to them and I hope they find them satisfactory. It is regrettable that it took the death of an unfortunate person to bring this matter to a conclusion, which I hope will be satisfactory.

Like Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill yesterday, I would also welcome a debate on the sale of one of our most important national assets, the national lottery licence.

Last Wednesday the House passed Senator Feargal Quinn’s Bill on upward-only rent reviews. The Opposition combined to defeat the Government on that occasion, showing the power of this House when it chooses to use it. There were some difficulties about the pairing arrangements that evening which I wish to clarify. While there were no official pairs, I indicated to two Labour Party Members that I had two Members missing on my side. Unknown to me, my office had also communicated to the Chief Whip’s office that the same two Members were missing.