Minister says debate on merger should be governed by evidence

Ann Doherty says Smiddy report fails to recognise different needs of urban and rural

Cork City Council will be first local authority to mount legal challenge against Government

Cork city and county should work in spirit of co-operation, says Cllr John Paul O’Shea

Jerry Buttimer says local government review group fails to show evidence for merger

Cork Chamber and Cork Business Association take opposing views of proposal

SF’s Cllr Chris O’Leary calls Alan Kelly’s decision fundamentally anti-democratic

Councillors back move to seek legal advice on taking constitutional challenge on merger

Workers Party say merger plan would be a disaster for both Cork city and county

Proposal would not address divergent needs of city and rural communities, say experts

Expanded metropolitan area key to driving economic growth, says chamber president

Key proposal of five-person group is super authority that would serve over 500,000

It is expected that the new Cork authority will be in place by the 2019 local elections

Business leader says decision would dismantle Cork as Ireland’s second city

Local government group suggests proposal will help area compete with Dublin

Former mayors are right: merger would seal Cork’s fate as a second-tier city

‘Profound concern’ at prospect of new single authority to run both city and county

Decision yet to be made on one merged authority or two redrawn authorities

Review chairman says group will complete report before September deadline

Expert concerned that Dept of Environment may assist and urge greater centralisation