Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Why has the Minister been sent to the House to deliver such bad news? This is clearly an abdication of responsibility to the people. Are the people of Fingal more entitled to a library than the people of Ballymote? That is the question. It is no more onerous than for any local authority. Fingal has the airport in its area but the people of Sligo or in the Minister's native County Donegal will have to sing for it.

The attack on the people of Sligo has been relentless. It will come to bear specifically on the parties in the Government and it is wrong. It is apartheid by any definition to tell the people of Sligo that they are less entitled to a library or critical local services than the people of Fingal, and to dress it up in some way as independent recklessness. I have explained that the collection methodologies for commercial rates have been improved by the new executive and council. That is improving. However, to say, in a way, that central government and departmental policy had no part in driving an agenda which forced the council to buy additional lands and to spend in other areas is fundamentally wrong. It is an abdication of the Government's responsibility. Is it any wonder that the Germans walk all over us when we are prepared to do this to our own people in this country?