Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Seanad Éireann calls for a Seanad committee representative of all the political groups to be established in order to examine councillors’ terms and conditions, including PRSI class K status, pension rights and other related matters and that this committee consult representatives of both the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA.

It is welcome that Fianna Fáil has agreed to the motion to set up a committee representative of all the political groups to examine councillors' terms and conditions, including PRSI class K status, pension rights and other related matters. As all councillors have seen since 2014 in what we now call the new local government reform, their areas have become bigger, resulting in an extra workload. I ask that the committee proposed be set up as soon as possible. It is about all groups working together in order that we can achieve a good outcome.

I was a councillor for 19 years during which time I saw many changes in local authorities. In my county council, Carlow County Council, the number of members decreased from 21 to 18.I have seen the abolition of town councils. All of this has had an effect on councillors. Councillors play a big part in the community. I ask that this committee is set up as soon as possible and that we work with these councillors and all of the groups here in the Seanad to see what we can do to help meet their needs.