Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, the Local Authorities Members Associations, LAMA, and the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, for working so hard to bring this to a virtual conclusion. I broadly welcome these commitments. I would like to see the 230 councillors included in some way and I know that working together we may be able to do that. I was elected to Roscommon County Council in 1999. I was twice elected in Roscommon-South Leitrim as a Teachta Dála and have been twice in the Seanad. I can absolutely say that I worked as hard as a councillor as I did as a Teachta Dála and a Senator. I think most people would agree. That was when we had 26 councillors. I was in the fortunate situation of having my own business and would have bank-rolled to a certain extent what I was doing because the council certainly did not pay my way at the time.

At the last local election, we lost many local councillors. They were very disappointed and hurt but they did tell me that, although they were honoured to be elected, they are probably better off financially and in terms of their family lives by being out of the council. We need to work extremely hard to ensure that these are the bridge between the communities and the councils. They work in the best interests of the municipality or the council and need to be paid a fair wage for the vast amount of work they do.