Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, thank the Seanad staff, particularly for the help, assistance and mentoring, to some degree, I received when I came here.

In recent days I have received a number of telephone calls from councillors around the country, all referring to three basic issues, namely, entitlement to sick pay, the negative impact on household incomes of full-time councillors with no other income and the unfair treatment of lone parents and child care issues.

Last week we were told the councillors' representative bodies, the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, and the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, had met the Ministers. Councillors were e-mailed by Members of this House advising them that the meetings had been constructive and that a get-together was planned between the AILG and the LAMA in advance of further engagement. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, advised the representative bodies that budgetary issues were always present, but that the briefing he had received from the representative bodies would inform his position when proposals were received from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Regarding the class K PRSI issue, the Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection told the representative bodies that PRSI classification was a complex issue and asked the AILG for proposals which would give his staff a basis on which to negotiate on the regulatory and financial issues involved. In all of the reports from the various meetings that took place I cannot see any record of a discussion on the key issues involved. What is the status of office holders who are not elected representatives and how does it compare with the treatment of councillors? There is no sick pay for councillors, whereas there is for most office holders, including Members of the House. Class K PRSI is a tax. Can anybody show me one benefit that derives from the figure of 4% that councillors pay? I ask the Cathaoirleach to indulge me for a few moments, given that this is an important issue. Unlike many in this House who will walk away after the next general election well provided for, to what can a councillor look forward? Do we even provide a contributory old age pension for them? We do not. From the recent talks, I see no plan of action, only vague language and soft talk to pacify. Why is the councillors' representational payment subject to tax when, in theory, it should be treated in the same way as the Senators' parliamentary standard allowance of €12,225 which is tax free to cover various expenses?