Sir, – The 20th amendment enshrines local government in the Constitution and ensures that the State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.
I believe this amendment created an expectation, beyond reasonable doubt, that Irish citizens would, under the Constitution, have a vote every five years to elect members to their town councils to perform the range of functions also enshrined in the Constitution.
This could mean that it would be impossible for Phil Hogan to abolish town councils without the support of a referendum. – Yours, etc,