I begin by congratulating the organisers of the 2026 Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, all-Ireland community and council awards on what was a truly fantastic event on Saturday night. It was a wonderful celebration of the people and projects that make such a difference in communities right across our country. For me, the night had very special significance because South Dublin County Council won not one, but two awards. It was recognised for the best enterprise and start-up hub for WorkIQ, but most importantly of all, it was named council of the year. If ever there was a time when I felt the right decision was made, it was Saturday night. I feel I genuinely know what South Dublin County Council is about and what it stands for. My dad worked there, my uncles all worked for the council, I worked for the council many years ago, I served as a member on the council and I am a resident of the area, so I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this recognition is truly deserved. The chief executive, Mr. Colm Ward, is a progressive, empathetic and forward-thinking leader who is always willing to listen and engage. His leadership sets the tone for the entire organisation. We are incredibly fortunate in south Dublin to have some of the best amenities in the country from our green flag parks to our excellent libraries, our community centres and local facilities. In South Dublin County Council, there is a constant drive to do better and raise standards for everyone who lives and works in our area. I can also say from first-hand experience that staff go above and beyond every single day to help and support the public.

We often take for granted the work of a local authority because so much of it happens quietly and seamlessly in the background, but behind every successful event, every well-maintained park, every community festival, every road improvement, every grass-cutting programme, every library service, every community centre and every match day at our football stadiums, there are dedicated people who make that happen. I want to say a very sincere "Well done" to Colm Ward and all of the staff of South Dublin County Council. As a resident and a public representative, I feel genuinely lucky to have such a committed and hard-working team looking after the place I call home.

I join Senator Costello in congratulating South Dublin County Council on being selected as the LAMA local authority of the year. It is richly deserved. I know Colm Ward, too, and he does an exceptional job.

That leads me to focus on the local democracy task force. Its report is complete. It has been signed off and is no longer with the task force. It is not the draft report; it is the report and it will be presented to the Minister tomorrow. Arrangements have been put in place for that to happen. I cannot speculate about the final report or its recommendations. However, I go back to when the Seanad published, under the Cathaoirleach's leadership, a Seanad Public Consultation Committee report on local government. We always intended to revisit it and we should.

While we have no veto on this report, it is important that we as Senators work closely with local government and it would be right and proper that we at some point engage with the Minister and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage about it. We can have all the reports in the world - and there are many of them - but unless we implement and help to push along the key recommendations, they will go nowhere. I said earlier during a Commencement matter on the challenges around the Mayor of Limerick - a Mayor who received first preferences in excess of 27% of the vote; what an outstanding vote - that there will always be challenges, particularly when we are rolling out mayors. I welcome that the Tánaiste has given more momentum to a task force for Cork. There is a task force under way in Dublin. However, if we are to move from local administration to local government, there is a lot more work to do.

I commend the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, the County and City Management Association, CCMA, and the local government audit organisation, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, on the work they have done. It is important we now proceed. I look forward, in due course when the Minister has discussed the report in his Department and brought it to the Cabinet, to having time to discuss it too and to continue to mentor reform of local government as we committed to do in the Seanad Public Consultation Committee for local government and local democracy.