Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I really do welcome that but the wording should state chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the safety partnerships "shall be" members of a local authority. That would cement it for the Minister today and our members throughout the country.

There was much talk earlier about the community safety innovation fund. I welcome the €3 million from the Criminal Assets Bureau, but the suggestion in this regard was made by an independent county councillor in County Louth, Paddy McQuillan. Indeed, a number of independent county councillors throughout the country sent the motion in question to the Department of Justice. The money stemmed from the suggestion. I am glad it did but just pointing out that the role the county councillor plays is not just about the small local issues but also about the suggestions councillors can make to affect national issues. The community safety innovation fund has been very welcome in the Minister's Department. It will probably be rolled out every single year as a result of the money the Department will be getting in through the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Similar to previous amendments, this one would ensure the chairperson of the safety partnership is a councillor. The draft report of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe found Ireland has one of the weakest systems of local government in the world. Accepting this amendment to empower local representatives and helping them to return them to power is really important.

I will also speak on amendment No. 82, in the name of Senator Boyhan, because it also relates to the section. It is quite similar to the new amendments of the Fianna Fáil Party, which are welcome. It also ensures city and county councillors can elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson of a safety partnership. There can be more than one safety partnership in an administrative area. Today, members of our group are bringing forward motions on the diminishing powers of members and local government. Accepting the amendment would be a step in the right direction. It would help city and county councillors to have more local policing and safety powers.

I hope the Minister will accept our amendments. I would have liked the language of the Fianna Fáil amendments to have been a little stronger because it does not offer a guarantee. If the word "shall" had been included, it would have been better. I will support the amendments anyway because that is our only hope of getting this through for our county councillors. I will be pushing my own amendments also but will be supporting Fianna Fáil because that is the only chance we have of giving any power to county councillors to be chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of local administrative policing committees.