Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the vouching side, I hope that everybody recognises that we live in a very different world now to 20 years ago. The public expect a very different level of accountability and transparency for how public money is spent.We want to make that as easy as possible within councils, in terms of how it functions, and I hope that people work with us on that. It would, of course, be simpler to have no vouching and automatic payments, but I cannot stand over such a system. We all recognise that point.

The changes that were made by Noel Dempsey were welcome at the time, but it was a very different Ireland in terms of the availability of resources for local and national government. I have a responsibility to make sure the budget I have for local government is spent primarily in the interests of the thousands of people and families who rely on local government to deliver services. The majority of the new money we have to spend has to go on delivering those services.

In order to ensure that services are delivered, we must have councils that function and councillors who feel valued, respected and want to stand for election for local government so that talent is willing to put itself forward. That is why we are making changes. I am sure I will get some criticism from outside the House for even touching the issue of councillors' conditions and support. I have already received such criticism. The approach to date has been fair and balanced. I have listened to the comments of Members and will bear them in mind but, if I am honest, it is unrealistic to expect backdating.