3rd April 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY WELCOMES LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL 2003

The Green Party broadly welcomes the second stage of the Local Government Bill 2003, which seeks to abolish the dual mandate. 

Green Party Environment and Local Government spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD,  said today,  “The abolition of the dual mandate is a step forward in the right direction however big changes need to occur in order for the Local Authorities to operate efficiently.  Local authorities need greater powers and greater resources.

Local Authorities have played the poor relative to national government for far too long and they will continue to play that role as long as there is an unfair distribution of resources and power.”  

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty,  who will be speaking in the Dáil tonight on this matter will be referring to some of the following points:

”This bill should prove to be a tentative first step towards making local government fluid, energetic and transparent. The removal of TDs and Senators at local level should facilitate the emergence of new and fresh talent and instigate a new and exciting dynamic in local politics. “

“We need people who can give 100% to local government and can work for work for local people at a purely local and not a national level.  Proof of the Green Party’s commitment to the abolition of the dual mandate was illustrated by all TDs resigning their council seats shortly after election.”

ENDS

Ciarán Cuffe  TD                                                 087 265 2075/6183082

Stephen Rawson Press Officer                           6184088 / 087235 7551