Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

You are right, a Chathaoirligh. In fact, I thought we were debating section 9 rather than section 8, such was the variety of the contributions. I am interested in the practicalities of the city and counties operating in Limerick and Waterford. That they are losing out in a sense has been very well aired. Galway will retain its council status, while Limerick and Waterford do not due to the amalgamation. In practical terms, I am somewhat concerned about the references to city and county in the legislation.

I do not have any experience of a borough or town council because County Leitrim never had the population to generate one, but there was always a tension between the rural and the urban. There was always a certain tension between Carrick-on-Shannon, as the county town, and the rest of the county when it came to council initiatives. How does the Minister envisage this working in practice? Will there be an equality or parity of esteem between the city and the county? Legislatively, they are referred to as city and county. Presumably, the councillors who will form the bulk of the municipal area will elect a mayor, although perhaps the Minister will clarify this.

I presume that those who represent the city borough or electoral area will elect a mayor. What relationship will the mayor have with the county mayor or cathaoirleach? What relationship does the Minister see developing between the councillors who, I think, mentally will continue to operate as city councillors rather than county councillors? How does he see that relationship work? Does he think it will be an advantage? I am somewhat reluctant to enthusiastically embrace getting rid of the county or city councils and amalgamating them because, in practical terms, an enlarged council will lead to continued tensions between the urban and rural areas. I also suggest that it will be detrimental to the cities of Limerick and Waterford but not for Galway and the major centres in the country. The proposal will have a negative impact rather than a positive one.