I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and the Chair for giving us the opportunity to discuss it. When we iron out this difficulty which is a source of major concern for the people of Kilkenny – the matter will be explained fully at the meeting tomorrow evening – perhaps, at some time in the distant future, I might join the founder of our party as a freeman of Kilkenny. The people of Kilkenny take great pride in their city. The system of local government has united them, albeit under a misapprehension. It is welcome that they have such an attachment to it.
As I said on radio – again, this might have been misinterpreted by some – it was never my intention that Kilkenny would be downgraded in the local government Bill. Having spoken to him on a number of occasions in the past week to ten days, Deputy Aylward accepts this. I accept, however, that there is a depth of feeling about the matter in Kilkenny which needs to be addressed. For that reason I immediately agreed that once I received a formal request from the corporation I would facilitate a meeting, which I am delighted to say will take place tomorrow evening and at which the matter will be discussed in a less charged atmosphere than in the columns of the local newspaper or on local radio. Generally, that is not the best way to do business.
I will listen carefully to what the deputation has to say. Deputy Aylward has put a number of legal points to me which I will consider. He has made a number of very sensible suggestions regarding the Bill which will be introduced in the autumn and which will in no way diminish the status of Kilkenny as a city. I will give careful consideration to the points which will be made at the meeting following which I am sure the matter will be resolved.
I reiterate that the Bill will not change the status of Kilkenny as a city. We are talking about two separate things. This status was granted under a charter which, like all other charters, is recognised in the Bill. I accept the point which has also been made by Deputy McGuinness that the relevant section is worded negatively. While this can be looked at, Kilkenny is not described as a city in local government legislation. This is accepted in Kilkenny which has been described by me and, probably, most people in the country as a city. This will not change under the Bill. The corporation can continue to describe it as the marble city.
As Deputy Aylward said we are seeking to modernise the language used in local government legislation in which Kilkenny is described as a borough. The term "city" has been used locally and derives from a charter granted in the early 1600s. Such local usage, custom, practice and tradition will in no way be affected by the Bill, nor have they been affected by existing legislation. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and look forward to the meeting with public representatives and the Mayor of Kilkenny tomorrow evening to clarify the matter further.
The Dáil adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 June 2000.