John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I think they will be quite happy that the process is now taking shape. Senator Wilson gave out about the €1,000 being taxable. The intention was always that it would be taxable. It was always the position of the Department that it was likely to be taxable but we were waiting on an adjudication by the Revenue Commissioners. He gave out about the €5,000 vouched expenses. It is a false hope to be giving councillors that we will have unvouched political expenses in the future. That day is done. It is about how we make the vouched system more usable and applicable to their costs. We have to stop talking about going back to unvouched expenses because it will never happen. I referred to the public sector mileage rates in my comments.

Senator Horkan said he does not understand the reason councillors are the only group in the public service that are not entitled to a pension. I agree fully. That is one of the reasons behind bringing in this independently chaired review. Councillors are not in the public service. Even some Members of this-----