Penrose proposes restoration of town councils

• Penrose proposes restoration of town councils

The Labour Party is now proposing that every town with a population of more than 5,000 and at least 1,000 dwellings, and with a clearly defined urban centre, should have its town council restored, Deputy Willie Penrose told the Dáil.

There should be nine councillors elected from one electoral area, but if the town is larger, then there should be 15, he said.

“Let us be clear that we (Labour) did make a mess and regret it,” he said.

“One could not say, however, that town councils in which one could get elected by 50 people were worthy of retaining.

“There should have been reform rather than abolition. Let us be clear and call a spade a spade.”

He said the Labour Party’s central point was that the town would elect its own councillors to serve the needs of the town.

“People do feel remote from their public representatives at present,” he said.

“The proposal would remedy this. Councils would have the ability to set their own rates. They could be lower or higher than those set by the county council.”

The restoration of the town councils for Mullingar, Athlone and Longford would enable them to be in control of their own development plans, budgets, planning applications and finances, he said.

“In Mullingar, the town council could promote the local industrial park at Marlinstown, which has 27 ha, so it could be sure to get an industry there,” he said.

“It is centrally located, well appointed, has planning permission and three-phase electricity, yet IDA Ireland has failed to secure an industry for the area.

“We could do more. Athlone and Mullingar both have well over 20,000 people, heading towards 25,000. Longford has 10,000. All of those areas would qualify. That is important.”

 

• Concern at treatment of rural Ireland 

If the proposals under this new National Planning Framework come to fruition, there will be a change in the Irish way of life, Fianna Fail Senator Aidan Davitt warned.

When the planning proposals are fully ventilated and people are aware of what is being proposed, he said he believed groups involved socially in rural Ireland such as the GAA, the IFA and others, will be vehemently against some of them.

“That is because it is going to be the death knell of rural Ireland,” he said.

“Anyone travelling through rural Ireland at present can see shops in villages and towns are closing in front of us.

“I suspect there will be a serious backlash in respect of the National Planning Framework if cognisance is not taken of rural Ireland and the people who intend to stay there and live the lives their forefathers have lived.”

Senator Davitt said he was also very concerned at reports “being bandied around” about taking the power to set Local Property Tax from local government.

“I refer to the discretion in changing the tax up or down 15%,” he said.

“I am curious to know if this was kite flying by the government. The threat to take that power from local government certainly seemed to come through those natural channels. It was brought to my attention by Councillor Cormac Devlin at the Association of Irish Local government, AILG, meeting in Mullingar.

“Many councillors had extreme concerns because it is one of the few hard powers that have been left with them. That is one concern and I am curious to know if the Leader knows anything about it.”

In reply, the Leader of the House Senator Jerry Buttimer said he was unaware of such reports.

 

• Irish agriculture cannot solve climate change

If Ireland reduces its beef production due to climate change, the markets would then be supplied by South America, which will be transporting that beef half way across the world and whose production is not nearly as efficient as Ireland’s, Fianna Fáil Senator Paul Daly told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change.

Speaking during a debate on a report from the Citizens’ Assembly, he said even if Ireland ticked all the boxes, solved all the problems and met all its targets, if other countries are not doing that, the global climate change issues will not be solved.

In response, the Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said that was a very big question and the Senator was justified in asking it.

“Our recommendations are in general terms and are broadly expressed,” she said.

“The issues of climate change have broad implications and undoubtedly so for the agricultural sector. One may have to take economic factors into account in terms of how one deals with it.

“It is interesting that there are so many economists on the National Advisory Council. One must take a broad view and take all factors into consideration. It is going to be a difficult job.”

• Hard Brexit will ensure the introduction of tariffs and customs

A hard Brexit will ensure that trade is governed by the World Trade Organisation and it will ensure the introduction of tariffs, customs and the reintroduction of administrative supports, Fianna Fáil Deputy Robert Troy told the Dáil.

He said he complimented the ports which have carried out the necessary infrastructural improvements to cater for a hard Brexit.