Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

From my experience in local government, this already exists. Many local councils enter all sorts of partnerships be they commercial or environmental. We see it with a whole load of agendas, particularly within the European Union. We see all sorts of partnerships. We see locally elected members of councils and local authorities having exchange programmes and going to different parts of different parliaments. I think this really all exists. Does it need to be anywhere special for Limerick? It does not need to be any more special for Limerick, it is for everywhere. I would ask for the Minister of State's guidance but my understanding, experience and practice is that there is strong international co-operation with local authorities and functions. There are partnerships going on between local government organisations as well. One of the things we can say in local government in Ireland is that we are strong in reaching out, particularly within the European Union. I fully support everything Senator Higgins has said but let us not overthink it. I have looked at a series of amendments that are coming up and again I see these things already happening. I would be interested in the Minister of State's guidance. I do not think there is any impediment in this legislation to stop any of this happening. If that is the case, there is nothing broken and nothing to fix. I hope the Minister of State can confirm in his view and vast experience that this is the sort of appetite and relationships that we have in local government.