I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to make a contribution at this late stage. I join other colleagues in wishing everybody a happy new year and look forward to a productive session.

I agree with Senator Jim D'Arcy's call to arrange for the Minister for Education and Skills to attend, as soon as possible, in order to discuss the proposed reform of the junior cycle curriculum.

I also join in the call by other colleagues for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to attend the House to discuss the very damaging revelations circulated by the media, and not through the Department or a committee of either House of the Oireachtas. We must discuss the issue as a matter of urgency. However, Fianna Fáil does not support the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by Sinn Féin requesting that an hour be taken from the so-called Local Government Reform Bill. We have only four hours to discuss 480 amendments. I agree that the Minister should attend, as a matter of urgency, but we cannot allow time to be taken away from a debate on very important legislation. The suggestion is an affront to democracy.

It is an affront and an insult to the people of this country that local government is no longer local government. It has been sabotaged and the seats have been taken from the rural parts of the country and put into the major urban centres. It is not acceptable and we will not support any amendment that takes time away from this debate, which is very important for democracy and local democracy.