Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In welcoming Councillor Malone to the Public Gallery, I wish to endorse what Senators Horkan and Boyhan and others have said about the pay and conditions of councillors. I talk to colleagues on all sides of this House, who are in total agreement that our councillors should be paid properly for the work they do on our behalf. They are at the coalface of our democracy. I know the Leader is totally approachable with regard to this matter but I would impress upon him the need for the Moorhead report to be published as a matter of urgency.

I endorse what Senator Craughwell said about helicopter and emergency services provided by the Defence Forces and the unfortunate difficulties in which they find themselves. I know Senator McFadden agrees that there needs to be an urgent review of the pay and conditions of the Defence Forces. The reality is that morale is at an all-time low. While I acknowledge that the Government is attempting to do something to rectify the situation, unfortunately, it is not enough. While I support Senator Craughwell's call for the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, to come to the House, the situation is urgent enough to require the attendance of the Taoiseach, who is the Minister for Defence. I am aware that unlike a lot of previous taoisigh, he has attended this House on two occasions, which I welcome. The last time the Taoiseach was here was April 2019 but it is important that he comes to the House before the end of the year to address both the difficulties within our Defence Forces and the difficulties relating to topics like health, social welfare, employment and councillors' pay and conditions, issues about which a number of other Senators have concerns. Let us hear at first hand what he has to say about all these matters. I ask Senator Craughwell to allow the Leader some time to seek the attendance of the Taoiseach in this House to address those issues, primarily the Defence Forces. He is the Minister for Defence and has ultimate responsibility for that portfolio and I would like to see him in attendance in this House before the end of the year.