Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On that point and the Minister of State's comments, the industrial relations process is one we must always embrace. In saying that, the other important element is the implementation group and the role it can play. I hope it will use discretion, and, if I may be direct, a good deal of cop on. This cannot be a situation where we turn people sour at the beginning. That cannot be allowed to happen. Senator Lombard referred to the issue of the transfer deadline day. I was not going to mention it but that has exercised people. In saying that, it is voluntary. As the Minister of State said, it is critical that staffing matches population.

One of the successes of the last five years has been the creation of the municipal districts. That has brought about accountability in terms of the elected members and the officials at the local level. Elected members, and also members of the public, can attend and make presentations to meetings of their local municipal district area. My fundamental point is that the implementation group is critical, notwithstanding the roles of both authorities. I hope a good deal of cop on is used. We have moved beyond the argument on the number of authorities we need. We recognise it is two and we are not going to repeat that argument in the future. It is not helpful to say we need one authority. We have made a decision and it is two. It critical now that we look at the entity of Cork, city and county, and how it can prosper and develop from day one of this new proposal.