Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I rise not just as a Senator but as someone who, like many Senators, has worked on the front lines of local government. I say without hesitation the treatment of our local government and the continued centralisation of power is a disgrace. Successive Governments, including on the other side of the House and the Green Party, stripped communities of their voices, representation and ability to shape their own futures. It was done in the name of efficiency but we lost democracy. We were promised reform but what we got was centralisation. We need more councillors with more decisions made locally and less power handed to unelected executives. Let us look at one example, which is last year's abolition of joint policing committees. They were perfectly good forms for co-operation between local authorities, elected representatives and An Garda Síochána. In their place, we have been given local community safety partnerships, the roll-out of which has been a mess. Local community safety partnerships are touted as more directly involved with local communities yet they circumvent those same communities' elected and democratically accountable representatives. Our systems are marred by confusion and imbalance. In Ireland, the chief executive is appointed not elected. They make decisions. Councillors, the people's representatives, are left to rubber-stamp budgets and pass motions that can be ignored. That is not democracy; that is a two-tier system where the elected are left to explain decisions they did not make. We could help to rectify this situation tomorrow. For instance, councillors have no access to experienced advisers and we do in the Oireachtas. I propose the appointment of independent legal, planning and financial advisers for all councillors, to be appointed by the council chair every five years. Another inequality in our democracy is the cap on councillors, limiting them to gratuity payments for no more than 20 years of service. No such cap exists in these Houses. Either place on a cap on years of service for all or allow councillors to serve and be recognised for as long as their constituents continue to elect them. This mess and confused half measure must end.

Another issue is the vouched expenses of €4,200. This can be used for admin support. However, it is not enough. It needs to be increased twofold. Even that would give councillors nine hours of administration support per week. It gets worse. Let us also consider the fact, which I have tried to raise in this Chamber for some time, that councillors are not even exempt from commercial rates. Can you believe it? There is no councillor on the Housing Agency yet there are chief executives.

I call on the Government to clarify membership of the local democracy task force and on what basis and criteria its composition will be determined. On this issue, we cannot be treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed manure. I welcome the establishment of the local democracy task force but I say to the Government, be bold. Do not tinker around the edges. Do not give us another report that gathers dust on a shelf. Give us real reform. Restore town councils, empower councillors, rebalance the relationship between elected members and executives and give local government the power it needs to serve the people. Independent councillors are the third-largest elected body. To leave them out would be unwise. Please be inclusive of Independent councillors.