Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I was approached by Senator Boyhan to countersign amendment No. 43. Based on his experience as a councillor and the argument he put to me, it would be a shame if there were to be a barrier preventing councillors from having an opportunity to lodge a submission on behalf of their constituents.

I speak to amendment No. 43, which is similar to amendment No. 42 that was tabled by my Labour Party colleagues. It aims to correct the Government's attempt to impose a cost on every single representative observation made by councillors in their core work of representing their constituents. The cost proposed would make representations by councillors on behalf of the people they are elected to represent prohibitively expensive.

The organisation of such representations through councillors is of benefit to all involved. It means that elected representatives hear the views of their constituents, provide some coherence to the submissions made, and organise the submissions for those receiving them in the local authority. It could serve to increase the awareness of councillors on local issues and improve their ability to represent their areas.

What comes to mind is the very active councillor who has great expertise in the area. In my area of Waterford, which has 32 council representatives, some of them have been there for years and they have developed great expertise. I would hate to think that because one councillor had that expertise and experience, he or she would be at a financial loss due to supporting their constituents and their active participation in the process. This modest amendment covers only representations made in regard to a councillor's local electoral area, not the entire area of the local authority. We were conscious of tabling an amendment that would not add to the already serious amount of work councillors have to do.I am a little surprised that such an amendment is necessary. The Government has said that it will take care of this by ministerial order. I believe there is no need because we are about to take care of it quickly and easily, and certainly with a vote on this amendment. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say but this is an area about which we feel very strongly. Hopefully my co-signer Senator Victor Boyhan and I will receive satisfaction from the Minister of State. If this is not the case we will probably move it to a vote. I will, however, let Senator Boyhan have the honour of calling that.