Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for being here. It is important for people to be constructive in this debate. In addition, those contributing should not be interrupted, as that is unhelpful.

I welcome this section but do not agree with the amendment. Can someone give me a legal definition of "householder"? Does it have to be an owner, a tenant or just an occupier? Perhaps someone can give a definition of what this amendment is for, because it is clearly broad and does not add anything to the section.

I have been following the issues that have been raised during this debate, including the composition of local authorities. Fewer than 10% of all local authority members are ratepayers. Does that mean that technically we should ensure there is a proportionate number of ratepayers on city and county councils, as well as non-ratepayers? Have we ever established a consultation process with ratepayers, who are paying huge amounts of money to local authorities? I have not heard any of the Opposition parties raising this point previously. In Cork City, for example, approximately €60 million is paid by ratepayers to the city council. Yet, of the council's 31 members, I doubt that there are more than three ratepayers. I was on that council myself for 12 years and was one of only two ratepayers there at the time, yet we were making a huge contribution to the local authority's finances.

The section, as drafted, sets out clearly the purpose of the consultation process to ensure the views of people on the ground will be represented all the way up the line to management. The intention is set out clearly in the wording of section 7 and the amendment would not add anything to it.