Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank you, Chairman, for allowing me attend the committee today. I have a serious concern with the way the Department is treating councillors and their representative bodies. Do you intend to bring in the Department to clarify some of the issues raised in terms of meetings and consultations with the representative bodies? Some of the things that have emerged are shocking and how the Department has dressed up its meetings with various representative bodies and councillors. As we have heard, there has been little to no consultation with them. That has really opened my eyes. Fair play to you, Chairman, for airing this matter today.

There seems to be a serious disconnect between the Department and the reality of councillors' lives. Currently, councillors are paid less than cleaners or service attendants in the Civil Service. They are grouped in the same section as Secretaries General and CEOs, who earn salaries of between €150,000 and €200,000 per annum.

There is a serious disconnect in where they fit in along the system here. The witnesses, Mr. O'Connell in LAMA and Mr. McEntire, Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Connor-Scarteen in the AILG, might clarify from their experience where they this see in relation to turning people away from entering politics. I refer to the new regulation in regard to pay and expenses, secretarial supports etc.