Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As regards the priority of our work, Sarah Moorhead might not be brought before the committee until January or February. However, my understanding is that, pre-pandemic, a commitment was given that the report would be implemented this year. I am just wondering about the effectiveness of bringing Sarah Moorhead and the other representatives in when this matter will be before the Minister much sooner than that. Some tweaks to the Moorhead report are needed as some councillors will be left very badly off but our focus should be on the decision-maker rather than on those who prepared the report.

I should say that in discussing remuneration of councillors anybody who is in receipt of a gratuity payment under the retirement scheme should declare a conflict of interest because we would benefit from that. I am happy to take the heat on that because councillors need to be remunerated correctly. It is the single biggest failing in the local authority system.