Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I support the request from Senator Gilroy that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would come in to discuss the future of local government. No. 16 on the Order Paper would be a useful vehicle to initiate that debate. It is a Private Members' motion signed by the majority of Senators.

I possibly differ from Senator Gilroy in that I have very serious doubts about what is being proposed in respect of Cork. Certainly reform is required but what the Minister apparently suggests is almost a trial run of regional government. As Senator Gilroy said, we certainly need to decentralise powers. I am an advocate of strong local government. I was an advocate of the town councils. One council serving almost 500,000 people sounds more like regional government than local government. Local government must contain and maintain the word "local". We do have to reflect not just on Cork but on the future of local government across the country. The Minister has committed to a review of what was put in place last year. We are asking him to come to the House to debate that review. I simply request that the Cork situation be part of that review.

If the Leader has the opportunity over the next month or two could he invite the Minister for Finance to the House to discuss the future of credit unions?There is serious concern among members of the credit union movement that further regulations to be signed into law by the Minister in late November or early December will have a negative impact on the credit union network. The voluntary credit union movement has been hugely successful. It has millions of members and provided significant finance for people during the years. We must try to protect and expand it rather than retract it. I appreciate that there were difficulties, but I understand they have been addressed. There is, however, genuine concern that sections of the most recent trade union legislation which are due to be signed into law and commenced by the Minister later this year will be detrimental. I would like him to come to the House to discuss his views. I would also like us to have the opportunity to express our views on how we could develop and expand the credit union network.