Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
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“Section 3 provides that the operation of the Act must be reviewed within five years of enactment after which a report on the findings is to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 4 repeals a section of the Human Tissues (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024. Part 2 sets out amendments to the Health Act and consists of 18 sections. Section 5 amends the principal Act to provide for the definition of key terms relating to the regulatory framework for home support providers. Section 6 amends section 8 of the principal Act to provide for new functions for HIQA to set standards on safety and quality in relation to home support services. Section 7 provides for HIQA to conduct investigations of registered home support providers.”
“The chief inspector will also be responsible for monitoring and assessing compliance of registered home support providers against regulations and HIQA standards. The new system of regulation for home support will ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard and will bring Ireland in line with best international practice. I will take the House through the Bill to briefly outline the content of each section. The legislation has two Parts consisting of 22 sections. Part 1 relates to preliminary and general matters and contains sections 1 to 4, inclusive. Section 1 provides for the Short Title of the Bill, collective citation, and for the commencement of its provisions. Section 2 provides definitions of key terms used in the Bill.”
“These amendments will act to safeguard service users and raise the quality and consistency of home care nationally and will be a first step in meeting the programme for Government commitment to design a statutory home care scheme. The framework will extend to all service users regardless of age who by reason of illness, frailty or disability require a home support service. As such it applies to home support provision funded by both the Departments of Health, and Children, Disability and Equality. The Bill will introduce, for the first time, the registration and regulation by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services of all home support providers in Ireland. Among other measures, it will provide the chief inspector with a range of powers and will make it an offence to provide a home support service without being registered.”
“It also provides the regulatory framework for residential services for older people, persons with disabilities and children in need of care and protection. The Chief Inspector of Social Services monitors compliance with this regulatory framework. The Bill before the House is modelled after the regulatory framework for designated centres as set out under the Health Act. This was outlined in the general scheme. It amends the 2007 Act, establishing a regulatory framework for home support providers who will be required to meet minimum requirements set out under Ministerial regulations in order to provide a home support service. This framework will be further supported by HIQA’s National Standards for Home Support Services.”
“There is also no independent oversight of the provision of services, so, therefore, there is no independent mechanism to ensure that the standards that do exist, such as HIQA's National Standards for Better Safer Healthcare 2012 are complied with. The regulations that will be made on foot of this legislation will therefore offer quality assurance to service users that their service meets the same minimum standards wherever and however it is provided. The introduction of a statutory framework to provide independent oversight of home support providers will ensure increased compliance with regulations and quality standards, which will increase public confidence in home support services. The Health Act 2007 established the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, and the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services.”
“This legislation will therefore ensure that, for the first time in Ireland, home support providers - whether public, private or voluntary - are required to operate in a regulated environment. There are inherent risks for service users in the provision of health and social care services by an unregulated sector. In vital areas such as infection prevention and control, staff training, and clinical governance, there are no standards or regulations that all home support providers must comply with. There are standards of service that can be expected from the HSE, through HSE funded services, or through the terms of private contracts. However, there are currently no consistent, minimum standards of care that apply universally to home support providers.”
“At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the services provided by the carers and service providers that deliver home support. Improving access to home support is an absolute priority for this Government, and home support hours have increased every year since 2020, from 17.8 million hours in 2020 to 30.6 million hours in 2026. This represents 26.7 million hours for older persons services and 3.9 million hours for disability services. The programme for Government commits to designing a statutory home care scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible. The first, essential step towards the scheme is to ensure that home care is regulated and that there are quality standards in place that services can be inspected against.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Deputies today, and to working with all Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann to progress this important legislation through both Houses. Home support is a vital service that is delivered to thousands of people nationwide every day. It provides a very important service to individuals of every age and their families, as it enables people to maintain independence and dignity while living at home. In line with Sláintecare, this Government is committed to ensuring that we take concrete actions that support and empower people to stay in their own homes and in their communities.”
“He was not specific but I am taking it to be there. The HSE is continually recruiting. If particular issues have been brought to the Deputy's attention, he might come back to me on them and I can follow up with the HSE in the region.”
“The Minister will continue to work with the DRIVE oversight committee to support the national roll-out of the DRIVE project. I acknowledge the leadership role played by the drugs task force in developing the DRIVE project. There are two aspects. I will bring the ask for additional funding back to the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and officials. I also suggest, in the context of community safety partnerships, that the Senator take the matter up directly with the Department of justice. It is a collaborative, interagency approach, and it is hugely important and affects too many people in their daily lives.”
“I stated previously that I want to thank Senator McCarthy for bringing this matter forward. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. DRIVE embodies the holistic, health-led approach to drug use, based on interagency collaboration. By working collaboratively, DRIVE can make a practical difference to people and families affected by drug-related intimidation and drugs in communities. The Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy will shortly receive a draft of the successor national drugs strategy. It is expected that strengthening responses to drug-related intimidation, such as DRIVE, will be an important component of the strategy.”
“In turn, this will allow us to quantify the demand for support and to allocate additional resources where these are required. I would encourage people experiencing drug-related intimidation to contact their local drug task force or community-based service provider to get confidential support. Senator McCarthy specifically referred to the community safety partnerships. He will appreciate that they are under the Department of justice but it is something I have no doubt will be noted by both the Department of Health and the Department of justice. I suggest that the Senator take this matter up directly with the Department of justice too. I will await his further comments.”
“The DRIVE oversight committee is responsible for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of the DRIVE framework in partnership with key stakeholders. It is supported by a DRIVE project staff team which includes a national DRIVE co-ordinator, a DRIVE project officer and a DRIVE data research and evaluation co-ordinator. The Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy has also assisted the DRIVE project to develop a national reporting system on incidences of drug-related intimidation, using the national drug treatment reporting system, which is maintained by the Health Research Board. This national surveillance system will record incidents of drug-related intimidation and provide national data on the nature and extent of this criminal behaviour.”
“The campaign has been successful in increasing awareness of supports available to 29% of the population, which represents a 10% increase overall. A key objective of DRIVE is to build community capacity to support victims of drug-related intimidation and violence. It provides specific training and capacity-building, which is being rolled out on a national basis. The DRIVE project is developing resources and signposting affected individuals to specialist support services in their local areas, including An Garda Síochána’s drug-related intimidation reporting programme. The programme responds to the needs of drug users, family members and individuals who are experiencing drug-related intimidation. It is led by specially trained Garda inspectors who have expertise in understanding and supporting people who experience drug-related intimidation.”
“It aims to build community capacity to support victims and tackle the root causes of intimidation and violence. The Department of Health has been the principal funder of DRIVE from 2020, when the drug task forces first submitted a proposal to establish DRIVE. The Department currently provides over €250,000 per annum to meet the operational costs of DRIVE, amounting to €1,260,000 in total to date. In May this year, the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O’Connor, and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, jointly launched a nationwide awareness campaign on drug-related intimidation and the supports available through DRIVE. A specific aim of the campaign was to reduce the stigma associated with drug-related intimidation. The Department of Health provided additional funding to support the national awareness campaign.”
“Drug-related intimidation is a serious and insidious issue impacting individuals, families and communities nationwide. It is a complex problem that leaves victims fearful and powerless. Senator McCarthy has alluded to all this. Intimidation can involve demands for repayment of perceived drug debts or opportunistic extortion, and its relentless nature poses significant risks to health and well-being. It can also be a means of recruiting people into supporting the criminal activities of drug gangs. The DRIVE project is an interagency response to drug-related intimidation and violence affecting an individual, a family or a community. It is supported by the Department of Health, the Department of justice, An Garda Síochána, the HSE drug task forces and other stakeholders.”
“I wish everyone in the Seanad a good Christmas and a peaceful and successful new year. I see we have cross-party Members here today. I wish them all well. I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on funding for the DRIVE project and the support provided by the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Drug-related intimidation and violence arises where individuals or family members are threatened by criminal drug gangs, usually because of an outstanding debt arising from the supply of illicit drugs.”
“The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, is committed to supporting and funding the acquisition of properties with tenants in situ, where all other options and measures to prevent households becoming homeless have been examined. Ultimately, it is all about increasing housing supply. That remains the key focus, but it is also a priority in terms of dealing with homelessness. Part of that is the tenant in situ scheme, which is there to contribute in terms of preventing people from going into homelessness. I wish everybody a happy Christmas.”
“Local authorities have also been authorised to enter into commitments for 2026 to a value of up to 30% of their original 2025 acquisitions budget. This has allowed them to commit some €95 million extra in 2025 for acquisitions that will complete and draw down next year. This effectively provides for a multi-annual approach to programme delivery, facilitating local authorities to plan and progress acquisitions from one year to the next with a higher level of certainty vis-à-vis future funding availability. This provides Dublin City Council with the ability to commit €28.5 million for acquisitions that will complete and draw down in 2026. This includes acquisitions to support exits from homelessness and tenancy sustainment via the tenant in situ scheme.”
“Once again, I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this matter, which I am taking behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I urge the Deputy to provide those details on behalf of his constituents to the Minister and the Department. Supporting households at risk of experiencing homelessness remains a priority for the Government. The tenant in situ scheme is a key measure in this regard. There was scope available within the original €325 million to support all acquisitions that could be completed. Local authorities that indicated they would expend their full allocation but could progress and complete additional acquisitions by drawing down the relevant funding this year were approved to do so. Dublin City Council was approved to progress additional acquisitions on this basis. That is important to note.”
“I do not know the particular circumstances of the family whose case the Deputy raised but I have no doubt it is very difficult. If the Deputy would like to bring the particular circumstances to the Minister for housing and the Department, it is something we can follow up. I do not know the particular circumstances but there are obviously issues of confidentiality as well. The tenant in situ scheme is part of the overall acquisition scheme itself in terms of a local authority's purchase programme. The refurbishment fund is to allow local authorities to acquire properties under HAP, where there is a tenant. Properties must be maintained to a standard and conform to the regulations for rental properties. Any refurbishment should be provided by the local authority under its planned maintenance programme.”
“Dublin City Council has completed 59 acquisitions to support households exiting homelessness into housing and 134 tenant in situ acquisitions preventing these households from becoming homeless. The Department does not have to hand the number of these that were in the Dublin North-West constituency but the officials in Dublin City Council can provide this information. With more than 16,600 persons in this State without a home, including some 2,450 families and more than 5,200 children, our focus has to be to maximise the impact of the funding available to us for those households facing the most precarious housing situations. Where Dublin City Council acquires a property with a tenant in situ and where refurbishments are required the property will be put into their planned maintenance programme for future consideration.”
“This allocation funds acquisitions under four categories, including: exits from homeless services; tenancy sustainment, namely tenant in situ; persons with disabilities and older persons requiring urgent housing responses; and buy and renew actions tackling vacancy and dereliction. More recently, the Minister has secured an additional €50 million which has been ring-fenced for acquisitions supporting households, particularly those larger families with children and Housing First clients, to exit long-term homeless accommodation. Of that, Dublin City Council were allocated €22 million. To date this year, nationally, 163 acquisitions have been completed to support exits from homelessness and into housing. A further 482 tenant in situ acquisitions have been completed, ultimately preventing those households from becoming homeless.”
“In this regard, tenant in situ acquisitions are a policy tool available to local authorities once all other options and measures to prevent a household becoming homeless have been examined. Along with the clear focus of Government on increasing the supply of new build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been, and will continue to be, an important policy response to priority needs. The Minister for housing has this year secured funding to a total of €325 million to fund acquisitions under his Department's social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, an increase from €60 million per year committed to under Housing for All. Dublin City Council has been allocated €95 million of this funding.”
“Like everyone else, I wish the Ceann Comhairle, the staff and our colleagues, Deputy Hearne and my colleague here, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, all the best and a good Christmas. Everyone needs a break. I wish everyone a peaceful, productive and robust new year. I wish to thank Deputy Hearne for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the Dáil on tenant in situ acquisitions. I am taking this matter on behalf of James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Acquisitions with tenants in situ are a category of purchase under the second-hand acquisitions programme which help prevent social housing supported households in the private rental sector, such as HAP, from becoming homeless.”
“These interdependencies underline the complexity of the system of the system and how an integrated and holistic approach is needed to ensure waiting times are improved across the health service to ensure people have access to the care they need when they need it.”
“Examples of this include the ongoing establishment of the surgical hubs around the country and the further roll-out of modernised care pathways. Embedding reform actions in our system will ensure the most efficient use of available resources in a patient-centred way, including initiative seeking to optimise the patient pathway from referral to discharge. The implementation and progression of the multi-annual action plan approach is not happening in isolation. The longer term reform of scheduled care and reduction in waiting times is interconnected with and influenced by a number of developments across the health service. This includes the continued focus on productivity and efficiency improvements and the shift of more care into community settings and alternative care pathways.”
“As already outlined, the Government is satisfied the structures already in place are appropriate to ensure effective priorities and target setting as well as the live and extensive reporting of waiting list information. In addition, access to accurate data about patients waiting for service across the system is recognised as being crucial to how we can facilitate access to those services. However, it is important to remember that these are only aspects of the solution to address the key issue of the length of time people are waiting for treatment. The improvements achieved in terms of acute hospital waiting lists and waiting times are being driven by specific actions aimed at increasing capacity and embedding reform by means of the waiting list action plan approach.”
“With regard to the proposal that the NTPF be made accountable to a committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas, I set out the thorough and extensive measures for oversight and governance of the fund that are in place between the Department and that organisation. In addition, the NTPF is required to appear before the public accounts committee, as specified in the legislation under which it was established. The NTPF has demonstrated willingness to engage with the Oireachtas upon request, including on a number of occasions this year. Obviously, at meetings of the public accounts committee, its representatives are questioned by Deputies on the basis of work done by the Comptroller and Auditor General.”
“These include the letter of determination, the national service plan and performance oversight within the HSE and between the HSE and the Department, including the waiting list action plan. In terms of the proposed measures to expand upon waiting list reporting set out in the Bill, significant work is already under way to improve and build upon the information available at present. However, the current limitations in relation to the availability of waiting lists to deliver the specific enhancements set out in the Bill would prevent the proposal from being implemented and would thereby undermine the intentional impact of the legislative change being proposed.”
“I thank Deputies Cullinane and Ward for tabling this Bill and facilitating a discussion regarding the length of time people are waiting to access care in our health service. As stated previously, I am taking the debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. As already stated, while recognising the worthwhile intentions and aims of the Deputies in tabling this Bill, the Government is opposing it on the basis that the proposed measures are not necessary in light of the effectiveness of the current arrangements and structures that are already in place. There are rigorous and effective structures and processes in place for setting priorities and targets for delivery of health and social care services.”
“This is evident in the progress that has been achieved to date. It is also important to recognise that the appropriateness of the structures in place is only one aspect of what is needed to ensure improved waiting list performance. Notwithstanding the progress that has been achieved to date, it is acknowledged that many patients are waiting too long for care and much further work is needed. I again thank the Deputies, particularly Deputies Cullinane and Mark Ward, for raising these important issues. While our methodology and approach may differ, the Government welcomes that there is a shared recognition of what needs to be in place in principle to address the challenge of reducing waiting times. For the reasons I have put forward, the Government and Minister will be opposing this Bill.”
“The Bill also aims to ensure the accountability of the NTPF by placing a requirement on the CEO of the NTPF to appear before Oireachtas committees upon request. The NTPF board is accountable to the Minister for Health and comprehensive governance arrangements are in place to ensure the NTPF meets its requirements under the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Under its establishment order, the CEO is required to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts. It has also demonstrated its willingness to engage with other Oireachtas committees having appeared before the Joint Committee on Health this year. As I have set out, while the merits of the Bill are acknowledged, the existing processes and governance structures in place are fully adequate to support improved waiting list performance.”
“While work in this regard has commenced, it would not be possible at this juncture, as proposed in the Bill by the Deputies, for the National Treatment Purchase Fund to support or deliver waiting list reporting for primary care to the standard currently achieved for acute hospital waiting lists. In regard to community and child and adult mental health services, CAMHS, waiting lists, there is a long-standing and well-established reporting and monitoring system between the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to improving access to CAMHS and reducing waiting lists for those services. This process involves regular engagement and detailed data returns, which will continue to be enhanced. It is worth noting that reductions in the waiting list for CAMHS have been achieved despite the continued increasing demand for those services.”
“Looking at primary care waiting lists, to address the long waiting times for primary care, the Department of Health is currently working with the HSE on a focused, programmatic approach to primary care waiting list management, aiming to put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to support systematic responses to primary care waiting lists. Data are a key aspect of the standardised infrastructure that is needed to bring about long-term improvements to how we plan for faster access to those services. However, currently, there are widely acknowledged limitations in the level of data available at a granular level in terms of the primary care therapies and related activity and waiting lists. One of the aims of the programmatic approach is to address these data limitations.”
“The greater access to meaningful wait time information for patients and practitioners that will be provided through best practice reporting will assist in maximising resources in the effective management of waiting time and waiting list information. Significantly for patients, best practice reporting will provide them with reliable information on how long they can expect to be waiting for their treatment. Over time, the significant programme of work that has been undertaken and data infrastructure that has been developed across acute hospital services have provided greater visibility of these services from several perspectives. It also provides a platform for reform and the development of data-driven interventions to improve productivity and benchmark performance.”
“In regard to the development of waiting list reporting, there is currently a robust structure in place between the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund for the collection, collation and validation of acute hospital outpatient, inpatient and day case waiting list information. However, it is important to note that this is being continually developed and improved upon to provide access to greater levels of waiting list information. This is evidenced in the significant work currently under way on a best practice reporting project led by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The scope of the best practice reporting programme is to implement waiting time and waiting list reporting for patients on acute hospital waiting lists.”
“The Department of Health is currently engaging with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund to develop the plans for 2026, which will build on the progress delivered to date, renewing the focus on further improving waiting times for patients and considering the learnings from the challenges that arose in 2025. On the matter of waiting list reporting, the Bill also seeks to extend the role of the National Treatment Purchase Fund by expanding its reporting function to include non-hospital services such as primary care, disability and mental health, and to provide a greater level of detail about those services than is currently available.”
“The multiannual waiting list action plan approach, which commenced in September 2021, facilitates target setting and monitoring for acute hospital waiting list performance and has been highly effective in improving waiting times for our hospital services. While it is acknowledged that further improvements are needed, the effectiveness of the structures in place is evident in the improvements to waiting list performance since the action plan approach was implemented. As of the end of October 2025, these include a 55% reduction, or 155,000 fewer patients, waiting over 12 months, an improvement of 44% in the average waiting time for patients on lists from 12.2 to 6.8 months, and an 11% reduction in the number of patients waiting longer than the ten- and 12-week Sláintecare targets, which equates to 66,000 patients.”
“Internally, the HSE implements the performance and accountability framework, which sets out how the HSE’s regions and national services are held to account for their performance. In line with the programme for Government, the Government’s priority for 2026 is to improve healthcare access and quality across all health regions. This requires greater regional and national accountability for performance against national service plan targets. As such, the performance and accountability framework will further strengthen transparency across every level of the health service, with clear lines of authority, responsibility and accountability to ensure delivery on commitments.”
“On maximum wait times, the targets in the national service plan are set having regard, as the Deputy has already referenced, to the 2017 Sláintecare report, which specifies maximum waiting time targets for scheduled care in our hospitals of ten weeks for a first outpatient appointment and 12 weeks for an inpatient or day case procedure. The range of waiting time targets for scheduled care set out in each year’s national service plan represents progressive steps towards the ultimate goal of the Sláintecare targets. In regard to the performance engagement model, it provides a framework for oversight and engagement on performance issues between the Department and the HSE, and ensures that HSE performance can be measured against the objectives and targets set out in the national service plan.”
“On priority and target setting, throughout their proposals, the Deputies acknowledge the importance of having clearly defined priority and target setting in the delivery of health services. This is already in place, with an existing rigorous process underpinned by strong governance arrangements across the Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. In regard to letters of determination and the national service plan, on foot of the budget announcement, the Minister for Health’s letters of determination to the HSE include the requirements that the HSE’s national service plan for the following year must set out the type and volume of services to be delivered and appropriately reflect the priorities set out by the Minister in the Department. That is set out under the Health Act 2004.”
“In principle, the proposals put forward are in line with measures already in place in relation to priority and target setting; with the continual development and improvement of waiting list reporting; and with our shared recognition of the need to ensure the accountability of aegis bodies under Departments. However, notwithstanding the merits of what the Bill aims to achieve, the Government is opposing it on the basis that the specific proposals are not necessary, given the measures already in place or being developed, and in some cases are not possible to implement. Furthermore, the proposals will not address the key issue, which is the length of time people are waiting for treatment. To reiterate, the Government will be opposing the Bill for reasons I will outline in greater detail.”
“I thank Deputies Cullinane and Ward for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Health (Waiting Lists) Bill 2024, which the Deputies have put forward. I recognise the worthwhile intentions and aims of the Deputies in tabling this Bill. I am taking this matter on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Specifically, the Bill seeks to introduce requirements for setting priorities and maximum waiting time performance targets for services across hospital and community sectors, to extend the waiting list reporting role of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and to place additional statutory accountability measures on the National Treatment Purchase Fund in relation to Oireachtas Committees.”
“This has been a very welcome debate. I will speak briefly on the key points that came up. People spoke about the task force. The commonality was the pension issue. I will bring that back to the Minister. PRSI was mentioned. I expect that these are all matters that will get due consideration. Again, I thank Senators for the debate and look forward to being able to listen to the remainder of the contributions.”
“We would obviously like to work in partnership, so the Senators should allow the timed amendment to go through. We do not want to do anything that would in any way not allow the task force to carry out its work. The timed amendment would allow consideration of the proposals contained in the Bill in the round in the context of the task force's recommendations. People tabling proposals is always welcome. We may not always agree, but the intention behind what is proposed here is to improve councillors’ circumstances. That is something we all want. I thank Senators Black, Flynn and Ruane for introducing this Bill and for the detailed consideration that they and other Members have given to the issue. I hope I will be able to stay for the remainder of the debate. If a vote is called in the Dáil and I am not able to remain, I apologise.”
“The timed amendment will allow for the proposal contained in this Bill to be considered in the round and in the context of the task force's recommendations. When the task force reports, the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, want it to make recommendations that are suitable and sustainable. Those recommendations will come up for discussion. We very much welcome everyone’s feedback. We are all practising politicians here. Councillors play an absolutely vital role. I admire what they do. Many of us came through the councillor route. It is where we learned our craft. There are people who have served on them for many years and there are a lot of young people coming in. That provides vibrancy as well. I would never question people's motives. I understand where Senators are coming from.”
“I have already acknowledged that this is a well-intentioned proposal. I do not wish to question that in any way. However, Senators will appreciate that the Government has a body of work under way with the task force. It is a structured body of work. It is independently chaired. Jim Breslin is a very fine former public official. LAMA and AILG are represented and it draws across expertise. We have to continually improve the situation for councillors. We have made great strides, and that has been acknowledged. The task force is required to deliver recommendations to the Government in the early part of next year at which time the Government will consider the recommendations and make policies for implementation including legislative amendments if necessary.”
“When you get people from all sections of society, male and female, you get the best results because everyone is represented in the room. We will not agree on everything, but the tension and the synergies you get bring about really good and sustainable policy. By establishing the task force, the Government has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing democracy at a local level. As I outlined the Bill represents an effort to address the workload of elected members of local authorities many of whom balance their part-time roles with employment or caring responsibilities. It is true that over the past 20 years the role and workload of councillors has increased in terms of structures and the work they do. Senators will appreciate that the programme for Government refers to supports to further enable councillors to carry out their work.”
“The Government is particularly keen that when the task force, making its recommendations, considered the suitability for implementation of each. The proposal agreed by the Government on foot of the recommendations of the task force would constitute the next generation of local council reforms and will have a long-term impact on our local government sector. By establishing the task force, the Government has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing democracy at local level. We want to ensure that government across society, and particularly local government, has powers and that there is representation, particularly female representation. We need diversity across all sections of society. Representation of all areas of society is important at every level. We have to make it more family friendly.”