Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Indeed it is. This is about the role of the councillor at the heart of community. While some will suggest that this debate is just about remuneration, expenses and allowances, it is about a lot more than that.

Having served on a local authority myself, I believe that councillors are deserving of a realistic income which should be put on a statutory basis. Local government members contribute to public bodies, to the betterment of our health and education systems and the improvement of our local government areas. Senator Dolan spoke about the issue of supports. Councillors are involved at municipal district level, they sit on strategic policy committees, on education and training boards, ETBs, on transport policy committees and development committees for cities and counties. This work requires support.

If Members of the Oireachtas had to do their work without secretarial assistants or if Dáil Members had to work without parliamentary assistants - to which Senators should also be entitled - they would not be able to be focused and professional.

Last week in Cork city there was an impasse between the local authority and traders on Patrick Street regarding access. Local councillors sat down with the traders, engaged and took the time to arrive at a decision that was not based on a whim but on real information. I would contend that the management of the local authority had that information at its finger tips but the councillors did not.

The Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, made a presentation to Members prior to the beginning of this debate. That 541 councillors would be disadvantaged financially makes no sense.It is wrong. I know of one member in west Cork who stands to lose a significant amount of money. To be fair to her, it is not about money for her. She takes her role very seriously in being on interview boards and different council sub-committees.

The Minister of State is very sincere and genuine, having been involved in politics for a long time, including as a councillor. He is committed to the establishment of an independent review group. I hope it will be able to carry out its work in a timely and urgent manner, that it will not take forever to report and that it will come back swiftly. It is about ensuring the proposed remuneration reform group will deliver a report at which councillors can look and I hope buy into. The AILG has asked for it to have an independent chairman from outside the realm of the existing pool of potential chairmen. There is an impasse and we are at a crossroads in local government. I do not say that in a populist way because, as Members of this House, councillors are our constituents. I say it as an anorak who is concerned about the way politics is going in general. I have repeatedly said we cannot allow politics to become the preserve of the few, people who are independently wealthy and can delve in an out. I have spoken to councillors who are working and trying to strike a balance in leaving work to attend meetings at 3 p.m. and then having to go back to work. They have to take days off work or their businesses have closed as a result of their being involved in politics. That is what we are looking at.

We are on the precipice of the 2019 local elections. An independent review group is to be established, while in time a boundary review group will report to the Minister of State. It is critical that after a time in which there was the withdrawal of money and goodwill from local authority members we and the Government turn the ship around, support them and give them our imprimatur as Members of this House. Local government is not just about fixing potholes and lamps, as some people seem to think. It is about the future of cities and our counties. It is about the planned balanced development about which we talk here in the context of regional regeneration. It is also about the delivery of an enhanced public realm, with ensuring we will have services and the provision of housing. That is what people are talking about. It is not about footpaths and fixing potholes, rather it is about the lives of people and the impact it has on them. I commend the Minister of State and wish the review group well. I hope it can do its work in a timely manner.