I have enjoyed two years only in office so far and consider I have a reasonable record of "doing" rather than "talking" within that period. Within the period that the Deputy's Government was in office in the not too distant past we would have expected to have seen movement on issues of such fundamental importance to us.
On the specific question of membership of the study group, I would not insult the relevant organisations by asking them for submissions had I made up my mind on such issues. I am in the course of a genuine consultation process. I have requested submissions from the representative bodies; I want their views. The structure and composition of that study group will be decided as soon as those submissions have been received and studied in my Department, not in the distant but in the "immediate" future, so that we can set it up, get it right and, finally, put local government on a sound financial footing into the future.
On the position in Cork, I note that revenue improved somewhat in 1994 but there are particular, horrendous problems — like the expected pay-out in Cork on foot of public liability claims of £2.3 million in 1995 — also fundamental issues which must be addressed if we are to put local government funding on a sound equitable basis.