Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the councillors present in the Public Gallery. I thank councillors from across the country who have contacted me since the circular was issued. I will try to address a number of specific issues. On the vouched list, the Minister stated fuller details of allowable expenses would be issued in due course. I could list items that should be added to this list based on my experience as a public representative for almost 30 years, including 23 years as a councillor. The current list is very short and not suited to the types of expenses councillors incur daily.

What is the rationale for excluding city councillors from the proposed measures? The Minister's argument, which I am sure was presented to him by the officials who drew up the circular, is at best weak and frail. He indicated that the statutory responsibilities of municipal districts constitute the reason for the proposal to provide an increase for municipal district councillors and not for city councillors. The latter, whether in Cork, Galway or Dublin, have the same responsibilities as the former, albeit in city hall. They have the same responsibilities, even if they do not exercise them at a lower level. I ask the Minister to reconsider his position on this matter as his argument does not stand up.

The Minister referred to the review initiated in 2015, during the term of the previous Government. I was the only Oireachtas Member on the review group, which was top-heavy with officials as opposed to elected representatives. The only councillor on the group was Councillor Padraig McNally from County Monaghan. I am disappointed the group did not issue a final report. The Minister should ensure the group's work is finalised. One of the facts to emerge from its deliberations, one which was not disputed by the officials on the group, was that councillors worked at least 35 hours per week. This is a critical issue in any discussion about payment. The linkage to Senators' remuneration must be removed because it is no longer relevant. It was established more than 20 years ago when salaries for local authority members were first introduced as a means of comparing the work of councillors with the work of Senators and Deputies. This approach is no longer relevant because the workload of councillors has increased substantially in the meantime. Rather than having a link to Senators' pay, the Minister should establish an independent commission of three members to examine local authority members' pay. It would not have an axe to grind and I am confident that if we allowed the axe to fall - no pun intended - it would result in councillors being paid a proper and fair wage for the work they do on behalf of their communities. They are not being paid a fair wage and two and a half years into the current term of local government, councillors from all parties are resigning because they cannot make a living or sustain a second job. Local authority membership has become a full-time job.

The Minister referred to the review initiated in 2015, during the term of the previous Government. I was the only Oireachtas Member on the review group, which was top-heavy with officials as opposed to elected representatives. The only councillor on the group was Councillor Padraig McNally from County Monaghan. I am disappointed tthat the group did not issue a final report. It is important the Minister ensures the group's work is finalised. One of the facts to emerge from its deliberations, and one which was not disputed by the officials on the group, was that councillors worked at least 35 hours per week. This is a critical issue in any discussion about payment. The linkage to Senators' remuneration must be removed because it is no longer relevant. It was established more than 20 years ago when salaries for local authority members were first introduced and some way of comparing the work of councillors with the work of Senators and Deputies was considered necessary. This approach is no longer relevant because the workload of councillors has increased substantially in the meantime. Rather than having a link to Senators' pay, the Minister should establish an independent commission consisting of three members to examine local authority members' pay. It would not have an axe to grind and, no pun intended, we should allow the axe fall because I am confident that this would result in councillors being paid a proper and fair wage for the work they do on behalf of their communities. They are not being paid a fair wage and two and a half years into the current term of local government, councillors from all parties are resigning because they cannot make a living or sustain a second job. Local authority membership has become a full-time job.

Two speakers described the allowance of €1,000 as an increase in salary. My understanding is that it is an allowance.