Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of the councillors. I thank them for all of the terrific work that they do. We all know they do terrific work. I will go through a couple of the testimonies, starting with Carlow County Council. I am very familiar with Carlow as it is a next door neighbour of mine as I live in Athy, County Kildare. Mention was made about the lack of female representation and I think that is huge. Senator Black suggested that we tease out the issue at this committee. Maybe everyone can give the matter consideration because the first six contributors mentioned it. The lack of female representation in local government is a huge issue.

Councillor Flynn Kennedy and I spoke outside about the workplace and her comments hit the nail on the head because for so many people it is a workplace. If we are talking about full-time councillors, then it will become even more of a workplace but a lot of people do not treat local government as such. Definitely we have encountered that as members of the public, etc., invade the privacy of families. Councillors have mentioned this issue and it is a huge issue for many. I do not understand the need to list a home address in respect of voting, registration, etc., and I believe that requirement should be removed. There are a number of Bills on the matter and people are talking about that aspect.

Councillor Teskey is 100% correct. The eyes of democracy in Ireland are looking at Limerick at the moment. Definitely in this House over the last couple of weeks, a directly-elected mayor has been a huge topic. We want to see this work in Limerick. I do because a directly-elected mayor is the future for so many places.

Councillor Darcy talked about the retirement of councillors. There is a television advertisement that says, "When they're gone, they're gone!" When councillors retire there is a lack of knowledge so I believe we need to tap into that knowledge. As I mentioned here before, I suggest we survey councillors and ask them why they have decided to leave, what they would like to see and what the future holds for them. I think this committee needs to look at something like that. As councillors have mentioned, unfortunately many councillors have decided to retire for various reasons. I believe we need to tap into their expertise and ask them why they have decided to leave. As we probably all know, social media may have played a part in their decision but we need to conduct a survey.

Councillor Conway mentioned the interesting idea of a saffron flag. I think this is essential because it is a way to involve our youth in politics, and particularly in local government. How would he see that initiative work? I ask because we can include his suggestion in our report but the saffron flag idea is something that has a part to play in the future of local government and, indeed, democracy in this country.

I would say to Councillor Flynn Kennedy that I am struck by towns teams. I have spoken to her colleagues, Senator Casey, about the matter. I am from County Kildare and I was a councillor for 11 years but I never came across the idea and I am shocked at the way it is playing out in some local authorities. I believe we must tackle the situation immediately because everybody in this room has put their name on a ballot sheet and were elected by their local people, which is how democracy works. I do not think town teams have any part to play in the future of democracy in this country. It is a huge idea and I ask Councillor Flynn Kennedy to fill us in a bit more on the matter. It is not happening in some of the local authorities, of which I am aware. For me, it is not democracy.