Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the councillor representatives here today. I agree with everything that has been said. It is most unusual in a debate to agree with everything that has been said by all parties across the House and none. Such unanimous agreement about an issue gives it greater validity.

As a former councillor, I know that councillors work 365 days a year. If a water main bursts on Christmas Day it is the same as a Wednesday in the middle of June because a councillor will still be called, even though he or she earns just €16,000 per year. We have a fear of being seen to give politicians a pay increase. If anyone else was on-call 24-7 for 365 days a year then he or she would not be expected to work the same conditions as a councillor. We do not want to be seen to give a fellow politician a pay increase. We are running scared just because they too are politicians. That is the kernel of the issue.

I do not know why the Minister decided to have a different allowance for city and county councillors. I am afraid that he used the old battle ploy of divide and conquer.How could one discriminate against councillors who are working equally as hard doing a similar job with the very same responsibilities based on their geographical location? I think the Minister will have to revisit that issue.