Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to also be associated with the condolences on the very sad passing of the Minister of State's sister. I hope he is well and it is good to see him back. We are all thinking of him.

As the Minister of State is aware, a number of years ago there were new security allowances put in place for public representatives. This was in light of the change in society, the change in the workload for councillors and Oireachtas Members and essentially to make sure people could go about their day and do their job without fear of anything happening. We have seen instances in the UK but we have seen minor incidents in Ireland. As a Government and as politicians, we have an obligation to try to encourage people to get into public life. It is important to do that and part of that is making sure they are safe to be able to do their job.

Measures were put in place a number of years ago and they have not been ideal. One of the main reasons for it was that a councillor could pay for security for their home or for their office if they had one, but it was just a 50% rebate and there was a €5,000 limit. Take-up has not been as much as we would like it to have been, and similarly that was the case with Oireachtas Members. Before Christmas, there were changes made for Oireachtas Members, with the allowance being increased and, importantly, a 100% rebate on it.

Since this new Government has taken office, the Minister for State at the Department of local government, Deputy John Cummins, has been in this Chamber speaking on it and knows it is a priority. He has worked on it along with the Minister, Deputy James Browne. They have put a proposal together. Senator Kyne and I met LAMA to discuss a range of issues, including pensions. This was one of the main issues up for discussion in terms of security for the 949 councillors across the country. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, they have acted very quickly. A proposal has been put forward and now just needs to be sanctioned by the Department of public expenditure. I call on the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, to do this as quickly as possible. I know a number of councillors across the country, at the moment, who are looking to do work on their home or office or something in terms of security and protection. They are waiting because they want to see what the new scheme will be, whether it will be a higher amount and a 100% rebate and if it will be backdated to the start of the council term. These are all concerns that LAMA raised with Senator Kyne and me.

I raise this issue on behalf of all 17 Fine Gael Senators. It needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. We cannot have public representatives across the country waiting to do things that are a necessity simply because they do not know when the scheme will be signed off on. I would really appreciate getting some clarity on this today. In fairness, the Department of housing has acted very quickly on this and it just needs the Department of public expenditure to sign off on it. I do not see any reason it should not when it is about security and people's safety while carrying out their work. This needs to be signed off on. LAMA wrote to the Minister, Deputy Chambers, outlining the need for this to be finalised as quickly as possible. On behalf of LAMA and my fellow Fine Gael Senators, I ask that this be done as quickly as possible.