I appreciate that we will be having a debate on local government structures and ancillary matters later, but there will probably not be sufficient time to allow all Members to make contributions. Last Thursday, with the permission of the Cathaoirleach, I had the opportunity to discuss, by way of a Commencement matter, the issue of local government reform and, in particular, municipal districts and town councils with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Ann Phelan, who, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, stated that, unfortunately as far as he was concerned, the current debate on the future of local government was off the table. I was, therefore, surprised but pleased to hear the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, concede once again that, as far as he was concerned, the abolition of town councils was a grave mistake and one that should be rectified. The Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has indicated that he wants this issue to form part of the Labour Party manifesto. However, that is the business of the Labour Party. It is an issue that forms part of the manifesto of my party, Renua.

Every political party should reflect on the fact that this country and its citizens have been well served down the years by the women and men who served in an almost voluntary capacity on town councils. It is more rather than less democracy that we need. I am glad that the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, is brave enough to admit that the Government made a grave mistake in this area. We should legislate well in advance of the local government elections in 2019 for the repeal of the current local government Act and put in place proper local government structures such that local means local and all citizens have a say in electing their council. This would include former town councils and, hopefully, many more units of local government through which the people of a particular community want to be represented at local level. This is the norm across Europe. We moved in reverse and in a negative fashion by abolishing the town councils in 2013.

I agree with my colleague, Senator Paul Bradford, that taking 744 town council seats out of the democratic institutions of 80 town councils was the wrong move. It was but a tinkering around the edges in terms of the weak local government structure we have in Ireland. According to the European Commission, Ireland has one of the weakest forms of local government anywhere in the European Union. There are many shortcomings in the local government system in terms of the lack of fiscal and oversight powers of local authorities versus the Executive. I commend the Leader for facilitating debate this evening of the all-party motion on the local government sector. While I welcome that debate, I agree with Senator Paul Bradford that there is a need for the political system to re-evaluate the decision on the abolition of town councils. Many Governments, irrespective of political colour, come to office with many grand ideas in relation to reform but very often they do not materialise. There was a golden opportunity on this occasion to bring about many reforms, given the straitjacket of the troika.

While some of these reforms have been introduced and some good work has been done, unfortunately, other reforms such as public sector reform, political reform within the Houses of the Oireachtas and the introduction of budgetary oversight were not touched. There is a failing in the political system generally regarding the role of Members of Parliament, whether in the Dáil or the Seanad, vis-à-vis the powers afforded to local authorities. This is a debate this Seanad may not have the time to have.

We will have a debate on the matter later today.