Paul Bradford (Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

Would the Minister of State agree that if the advisory group is made up of representatives of local authority chief executives etc., as we have learned here, and if, as we are being advised by the Minister, there is no going back to pre-reform days, then the people most affected by the changed structures, the people who would have represented town councils which have now disappeared, are not in a position to input into this dialogue? This is the converted speaking to themselves but the group needs to stretch beyond the comfort zone of the representatives of the current system. My argument, which I will keep pressing as strongly as I can, is that we need to look at the fact that local government is no longer local, given the size of our municipal districts and towns. Town councils and, in previous eras, town commissions and other such structures gave a very strong democratic imprint to their communities and people. While we are nationally demanding subsidiarity from Brussels and talking about the power of communities and local people, we are actually stripping away that power in the name of local government reform. I am disappointed that the Minister has indicated that a return is not an option. Clearly he is at odds with some of his party and Cabinet colleagues who have spoken in a different vein. I hope all possible structures of local government are being considered and not simply how to slightly improve the status quo.

The good news is that there is a three-year window until the next local elections and I am the first to concede that it is not the biggest issue on the doorstep but the concept of local government, local democracy and local representation at the lowest and most local level feasible is very important and we have to have a very open mind on the work of this advisory group. I would be very disappointed if its hands were already tied behind its back by what the Minister is saying is not on the table for discussion. I ask the Minister of State to pass my comments on to the Minister, Deputy Kelly. I am sure he is aware of the town councils in Templemore, Thurles, Nenagh and Cashel, all of which worked very effectively and gave us low-cost democracy in this country. I would like them not to be permanently consigned to the scrapheap.