Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the conference held by the Association of Irish Local Government last week, I wish to point out that more than 42 new Senators have been elected to the House and that many of us were elected by local authority members. The Association of Irish Local Government and the Local Authority Members Association have raised numerous concerns with each of us. I took the trouble last week to take out the literature that was circulated during the Seanad election campaign. Without exception, everyone elected here from that group gave commitments to highlight issues in relation to PRSI, allowances for councillors and their representational payments.There is an expectation that there would be some debate on this issue in the Seanad before the recess. I fully understand and empathise with their concerns, frustration and disappointment and, now sadly, their anger. The challenge is what we will do on a cross-party basis. I do not want to do a solo run on this - I have left it for the past two weeks - but we need a cross-party commitment. It is not good enough to be told the leader of Fianna Fáil says something, the leader of Fine Gael says something else or the leader of the Labour Party says another thing. We need to do something. We need to use the craft of politics on the floor of this House. This is how politics is conducted. Will the Leader agree to have the Minister in the House for statements, discussion and debate in support of our colleagues who do an exceptional job, seven days a week in local government?