Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-10
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Laura Harmon (LAB), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I support Senator Black's Bill, which is a very sensible proposal. As someone who was a councillor for a period of time, I would say it is absolutely a full-time role.
I was proud to serve alongside Senator Garret Kelleher on Cork City Council. Aside from the support needed through secretarial support it is also important that we consider that the council is often a pipeline for national politics. If we want to attract more people from minority groups and disadvantaged groups and, indeed, more women, then we need to ensure that the role is supported and people know before they are going into it what support is available to them. Any supports absolutely have to be put in place before the next local elections in 2029. We need to ensure this happens. It is really disappointing again that we are seeing another timed amendment from the Government. This is a real trend in this Chamber and I just wanted to express disappointment.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-10