Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the important matter of the role and remuneration of elected local authority members. She gave the example of a councillor who was working while also trying to hold down a council role. I, too, was that councillor. In 2009, I was elected to a council alongside Senator Davitt, who has also been active in the issue of reforming local government. I went through the pressures and experiences of trying to attend to my council duties while also holding down a full-time job. That was difficult.I assure the House and all Senators who have spoken that I understand the pressures they are under. Councillors are responsible for a wide range of important functions, particularly with regard to statutory policymaking, strategic development, governance of local authorities, leadership and local advocacy, which is key.

As Senators are aware, Ms Sarah Moorhead, senior counsel, was appointed in June 2018 to carry out an independent review to examine the remuneration of councillors. During the course of her review, Ms Moorhead consulted widely with local authority elected members and their representative organisations, political parties, local authority chief executives and other stakeholders. Local authority members were also surveyed and detailed financial information regarding councillors' remuneration and role was sourced from all local authorities. Ms Moorhead's final report was submitted to the Government and then published on Friday, 19 June 2020. It was also circulated to all councillors and Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas. As the Senator mentioned, the programme for Government, Our Shared Future, has a commitment to implement the Moorhead report on the role and remuneration of local authority members within 12 months. Meeting this commitment is a priority for me and the Department.

Further engagement and input from elected members and their representative associations are taking place during the implementation process. In this context, I have met local authority and elected members' representative associations over the months since my appointment. On more than one occasion, I have listened to their viewpoints on the report. They have welcomed some aspects of the report and rejected others, offering alternative proposals. Implementing the Moorhead report can mean many things to many people. It is important their concerns are given proper consideration. This important engagement was very welcome and I appreciate the role of elected members in it.

Any changes to elected members' remuneration will require regulations under section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, which must be given effect with consent by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath. Proposals in this regard have been provided to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his consideration and will be brought to the Government thereafter.

In addition to this, a working group has been established to examine the important non-pay recommendations contained in the Moorhead report and how these will be progressed in consultation with key stakeholders over a number of meetings through the working group. These stakeholders include representatives from the County and City Management Association, the Association of Irish Local Government, the Local Authority Members Association and a number of Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage officials. If needed, throughout the process other stakeholders or officials will be invited to contribute to the working group. The objective of the working group is to examine these recommendations and explore options to allow for their implementation at the earliest opportunity. The first meeting of the working group took place recently and the outcome of the group will devise a plan of action setting the key and valuable outcomes we need in this area. The proposed completion date for the said action plan is the second quarter of 2021.

It is believed that addressing pay and non-pay issues of extreme importance, such as examining possible efficiencies, meetings, training supports and technological developments, would provide for a better balance between the role of councillors and their personal lives, thus facilitating the retention of existing councillors while maximising the accessibility of local government and future candidates. This is key and one of my strong views is that a council chamber should be reflective of society and a microcosm of society at large. We want to try to work to achieve this. I thank all Senators for their help in this regard.