Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to extend my sympathies to the wife and family of Kevin Dawson, the renowned journalist who died the other day at the age of 57 years. I will explain how I came in contact with him first. He was a brave young journalist who, 25 years ago, first broke the story in the Sunday Tribunerelating to the drug trials on children in State institutions when no other newspaper would touch the article and no national broadcaster would touch the issue. At that stage, it was denounced and people thought it was all a fixation of his imagination and the imagination of others. We know there was a subsequent tribunal of inquiry and that everything he said was correct.

It is important that we mark the passing of this man. He had a 35-year career in print and broadcasting. He was a freelance journalist who worked initially for Magilland then the Sunday Press, The Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Sunday Tribune, Sunday Business Postand RTÉ. I wish to convey my sympathies to his family, especially his wife, Brianóg, and his children, Colm and Anna.

We saw in him an outstanding, exceptionally brave and courageous journalist. He was an exceptional man who really epitomised everything that is exemplary in public life, broadcasting and commentary in terms of political and social affairs. I wish to remember him today. May he rest in peace.

I wish to thank all the people involved – I know this involved all Senators across the House – who campaigned for better pay and conditions for county councillors. This has been to and fro with various people. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the Minister and Minister of State in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. I wish to acknowledge the work of the Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who advocated greatly for the PRSI improvements and the small improvement of an additional allowance in expenses. I wish to acknowledge this on behalf of all sides of the House. A committee of the House worked well on this matter. We will see a statutory instrument signed and I understand a circular is to be issued today to the chief executives in all 31 local authorities. Although this is a welcome step, it is only the beginning.I hope all of us will continue to work together in this House for better pay and conditions for all the 900 or so councillors in this country who do exceptionally hard work and have a vast workload and major responsibilities. Their remuneration should reflect their workload and responsibilities.