Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need the Minister of State and the author of the report in, regardless of what happens in the budget. Clearly, it may come before the select committee and may be addressed by it.

The other side to it is that while I take Deputy Ó Broin's point, the councillors are on the ground working for people's quality of life on a daily basis on the simple issues, such as footpaths. I refer to the fact that they are remunerated. More importantly, there has been a misconception of their status. The amount of work that they do that arises out of Moorhead needs to be addressed and interrogated rather actively by this committee.

The media has already reported the alleged increase in councillors' pay on numerous occasions. If the councillors were to have received all that has been reported in the media they would be on up to three times their current wages. It is important that the truth of it comes out and that it is ventilated properly in defence of councillors.