Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief out of respect for other Members. This is straightforward. I was a councillor for 11 years. The reality is that we are losing young and ambitious people from local government because they just cannot give the commitment that is required. This is causing untold difficulties. I believe every Member has great respect for local authority members and the work they do, which we know at first hand. The majority of Members have been members of local authorities. Councillors must be respected. The reality is that the present terms and conditions are a farce. I am fully aware that this is the case on the ground. It is unacceptable. There is a race to the bottom, which we must stamp out. The time for talking is over. We must get on with it. I hope that, in the coming days, Santy will arrive for the councillors.