Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the motion that has been proposed and seconded by the two Senators on the far side of the House. I believe it is only right and proper that councillors' pay and terms are renegotiated. This present operation is in being since 2014 and it is only settling down after the agreements that were put in place by the former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan. We can see now that it is not adequate at all to cover the expenses and the workings that councillors engage in on a daily and weekly basis.

As a former member of a local authority for 25 years and as a town councillor for more than ten years, I know quite well the workings of local authorities, both town and county council. I believe that great credit is due to anybody that puts his or her name forward to run for election to the local authorities. When the people who had the courage to put their names down are elected, it is only right and proper that they are properly remunerated. The pay of €16,500 is not quite adequate in my view to cover the cost, particularly of somebody that is a full-time councillor.

On the second day of this new Seanad, I put a motion down in relation to the K class. I was heartened by the response from the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the matter. He outlined three areas in which he could see where improvements could be made to the K class. The K class does not suit everybody. It does not suit every councillor. It does not suit some councillors to whom the benefits of the K class probably do not apply, be they over the pension age or whatever. I believe it is only proper that the K class is addressed properly and that councillors who are young and not of pension age should get pay that entitles them to a contributory pension. That is only right. There are several instances in which the K class is being used right across the public service and the Civil Service where some benefits do accrue for some employees. It is only right and proper that councillors get the contributory pension and the benefits that go with it.

I welcome the motion before the House. The Fine Gael Party welcomes it. I believe that we have to work together whether from all parties or none to support councillors at this point in time and to make sure they receive proper pay and conditions. Let us face it, they work long hours. Working with council officials is tedious work. Trying to get something done at council level is not always easy and is very time-consuming. I believe that the proposal that is made here will help to put pressure on the various Ministers. We see now that there are at least two Ministers involved in this. The Minister for housing, planning and local government and the Minister for Social Protection are involved.

It is not a simple solution and there are a number of offices to go through. It is high time that proper conditions are put in place. There is an urgency with it. It should be addressed. We agree with the all-party motion that is proposed. We should have agreement on it and be able to go forward from here.