Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I note his important comments on local authorities. I will not reopen the debate on it now. As he knows, councillors have sat on the board of University College Dublin for over 100 years. They made a very strong contribution. DCU is a classic example. I was nominated, although I did not take up the post at the time. The four local authorities in Dublin nominate one member. I know that DCU has really valued their contribution in terms of its master plan and its residential complex at All Hallows. It also valued the role of Owen Keegan, the chief executive of Dublin City Council. We also have the situation in other universities.

It is a pity and a lost opportunity. I am disappointed and sorry for the Association of Irish Local Government, which submitted a very detailed and comprehensive paper. I acknowledge its hard work in making a strong case to have local authorities included on a statutory basis. This House and the Dáil have not agreed to it. Ultimately, it has not been agreed by anybody, which is disappointing. I take on board what the Minister said about the new regulations. We had an opportunity. Last night the Minister talked about bringing more people on and having more inclusivity. In the statutory legislation, this Bill, we have specifically excluded an automatic entitlement of our local authority members. That is a lost opportunity.

I have worked closely with people in the University of Limerick. They acknowledge the role of Limerick City and County Council councillors in preparing the university's master plan. Much of that was covered in today's newspapers. We have lost an opportunity and have failed to respond to the Association of Irish Local Government which mandated us and respectfully asked us to include it in this legislation. That decision has now been made and there may be another battle on another day. I wanted to put my disappointment on the record of the House.