Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader address the Punch and Judy show in which the Ministers for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Social Protection are engaging to promote themselves to replace the Taoiseach? A few months ago the Minister for Social Protection was out of the traps first with promises of improved conditions for councillors, while last week the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government floated a kite on councillors' conditions and remuneration. This is not a ball for potential Taoisigh to thrash around while trying to curry favour among councillors who have had enough and are not being fooled by this showmanship. Almost half of them are full-time councillors and their representational payment is 20% lower than that of someone on the minimum wage. It has been agreed by all that this inconsistency must be addressed. Will the Leader call on his colleagues to stop point scoring and address the substantive issue?