Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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The submissions were excellent. I was a councillor myself. I will start with Councillor Tuffy, who said that her happiest times were as a TD, councillor and Senator. I have been a councillor and am a Senator. I am not a TD. I do not aspire to be one and never will. I will say the same thing as Councillor Tuffy. What she said resonated clearly with me. My happiest time in politics was representing the people I grew up among and lived with. It is a great honour. If I were ever to be out of here, and I put people in Dún Laoghaire on notice, I would certainly be back for another round in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council because local government is a fantastic place to work. I fully hear and understand what Councillor Tuffy said.

I will take away three issues rather than go into specifics. The national forum on financing local government Councillor Lacey suggested is an excellent idea and one that we should follow. We all know Councillor Lacey. There is hardly a week goes by when I do not see his name on The Irish Times editorial and letters page. He is a great champion for local government. I say "Well done and keep going" to him. I would like to think a forum might be one of our key recommendations. Others, including Councillors Saul and Clark, raised the issue of part-time pay but full-time expectation. That is a key point. The full-time expectation of the electorate in respect of city and county councillors is an issue we need to address.

Clearly, we need to support councillors. If they are feeling vulnerable, victimised or intimidated that has to be stamped out. That works two ways. We also heard from local government staff who feel under pressure within the local government system. We also hear that from councillors. We need to address that through a proper code of conduct and grievance procedures. Again, I would like to see that as part of our recommendations.

The most important challenge was touched on by Councillor Colgan when she talked about the engagement with the AILG, councillors and others in this House, and how that has not always been followed through on by elected Members. It must be remembered, and I am always very conscious of this when I stand here, that city and county councillors elect the majority of Senators. That is an important point to make.

The challenge that was talked about is the Planning and Development Bill. That Bill is coming to the House, possibly next month. It is in excess of several hundred pages. I will give the assurance, which will also come from others, that there will be very substantial amendments in support of what councillors and their organisation have been asking for. We will put Senators through the hoop and make them stand up and debate the issues and vote for them. That is accountability. We can talk about accountability in our council chambers, but we also have to have transparency and accountability within our Seanad and the Oireachtas. I again thank our guests for their contributions.