David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair, but, unlike Fianna Fáil, we have proposals and policies, and it is important that the Minister hears the alternative.

This is a big missed opportunity. The Minister had a real opportunity to reform local government properly and to give local government what no other Government was prepared to give, real power. It is the one thing the Minister has not done in this Bill. The legislation is more window dressing and more of the same. It is nothing like the radical reform that the Minister spoke of in his speech. Unfortunately, it is piecemeal and minimalist reform. It is all about a reduction in numbers and saving money, rather than radically reforming local government, which is the opportunity the Minister had following the mandate the Government received in the last election. He has squandered that.

I look forward to Committee Stage when we can properly debate and tease out all the issues, including the amalgamation of local authorities and the cull in numbers-----