Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would have been slightly disturbed and it would have affected the quality of my day a little to hear Barry Saul say that he was enjoying sitting on the seats here. However, I do not think he will be going on the Labour Panel, so that has left me a little more comfortable again.

I welcome back to the Oireachtas my great friend and our former distinguished colleague, Joanna Tuffy. It is great she is back here.

I lived all this for 20 years, so I know all that the witnesses are talking about. The pay and conditions have improved immensely and there has been much done recently, and that has been acknowledged in contributions. However, it occurred to me that has to be watched because the option to go full time for those who want to should be there, or at least that they could manage it. Another thing that occurs to me that there something needs to be done - perhaps at wage agreement level, social contract level or social partnership level with Government and unions - to incentivise employers to facilitate a councillor in their ranks and be proud that they have the councillor. Many would be proud a councillor is in their ranks but if they are not so proud, there should be an incentive for them to co-operate with the councillor's schedule and so on. A decent employer should do it anyway, with the flexi-world we live in. However, if they do not, something should be there.

On the broad point of social media, we have all been victims of that at some time and in some form or another. It behoves people in here to try to deal with that on many levels.

If I may be indulged because it is my own county, I wish to express my sincere condolences for our esteemed colleague, Senator Sharon Keogan, on the passing of her uncle, Fr. Jim Brady, who was an exemplary individual.