Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This provision comes through so much legislation and it probably merits a general examination because it has come through as a concern repeatedly. We know the phenomenon where many people are leaving their roles in local authorities. We also know the wages for those on local authorities are not enough that people can continue in their role. People have to choose between progression in their career in a small country where there may be only a few specific roles that use their skills or training to the proper level and serving with the local authorities.

There are caveats that might need to be addressed. The one area where there is potential overlap relates to things such as data centres, but that is something that can be dealt with. If there are interests there, they need to be dealt with. It can be thought through.

Section 17(5) states, “without prejudice to generality of subsection (4)” while section 17(4) states, “A member of the staff of the Commission shall, unless otherwise provided for under subsection (2)...”. Within section 17(2), is there capacity for the Minister to address that issue and those concerns about local authorities where the commission might set out terms and conditions of the service of a member of staff with the Minister's consent?

Another piece I am very concerned about, which relates to the public service and politics generally, is that we have this very hard signal that goes into much legislation that states that if a person is a local authority member, they cannot do this or that and will not be considered for this or that and all of the rest. Beginning before somebody is a local authority member, if you were a staff member of an organisation and were considering putting yourself forward for public office, with the great likelihood of being unsuccessful, which the majority of candidates are, you are looking at very strong signals that if you are successful, you would be required to give up your role.We do not see measures corresponding to those that are rightly available to members of the teaching profession. For example, there is an option for a teacher to take a period of leave simply to run for public office. There is, therefore, encouragement within the contracts for teachers to do this. Again, there is nothing that encourages people who are employees. There are many self-employed people and also many teachers in the Oireachtas. The reason for this is that while certain professions make it easier, other professions do not. It would be a real pity if good people did not run for office because it would mean taking a gamble. If they are getting an oblique signal that they will have to step down if they are successful, they may not even run. There is something there around the message that we send. There are two pieces here - those who are already members and those staff members who may have something really important to bring to politics.