asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce amending legislation to the Local Government Acts to provide for the reinstatement of members of councils removed from office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reinstatement of Council Members.
109.
The introduction of such legislation is not contemplated at present.
Has the Minister any intention of holding an election which would restore democratic representation to the people of Dublin city and Bray?
I do not at present contemplate holding such elections.
Could the Minister say why, after the city council of the capital city of the country has been abolished for approximately 14 or 15 months, he does not see not only the necessity but the desirability of restoring democratic representation to the people at local level?
As the Deputy himself is largely responsible for the actions taken which necessitated the disestablishment of Dublin Corporation I think it is rather remiss of him to address that type of question to me.
I appreciate the Minister giving me more credit probably than I am due for properly representing the people whom I was elected to represent at local level——
Improperly representing them.
Would the Minister not agree that the main reason why his Government will not restore the Dublin City Council is that the council on many occasions prevented the Minister's predecessor in the Department of Local Government from overriding decisions of the local planning authority?
The decision which the Deputy and his colleagues took on the Dublin Corporation at that time left the then Minister for Local Government no option but to disestablish the Dublin City Council, and I have no further comment to make on it. If the Deputy feels he was wrong in making that decision at that time, maybe he would be prepared to admit his mistake now. However, I have no plans to hold any elections before the prescribed time for the next local elections in 1972.
I can assure the Minister that neither at that time nor now would I change my attitude towards the breach of faith of the Government with the people of this city. Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that there will not be a Dublin City Council until the elections which are due in approximately June, 1972?
As I have already told the Deputy, I have no plans at present to initiate the holding of an election for the re-establishment of Dublin Corporation which the Deputy himself caused to be disestablished.
Would the Minister not agree that it lies within his sole discretion whether or not to introduce simple legislation to this House which could restore Dublin City Council or declare an election to restore it?
When the Deputy had a city council he disestablished it.
That is not what I asked the Minister.
Unfortunately those are the facts of the situation and I have no plans at the present time for holding an election.
The remaining questions will be postponed until next week unless Deputies take written answers.