Warning over conference fees

Minister for Local Government Dick Roche yesterday hit out at political parties seeking to tap into the conference funds of local authorities.

Addressing councillors at the annual conference of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) in Shannon, Mr Roche said he wanted to nip in the bud the phenomenon of political parties inviting councillors to attend fee-paying party conferences.

He said you would have a situation where councillors from a political party were going to a conference held by their party and the fee and travel expenses would be paid by the local authority.

"We need to cop ourselves on. I disapprove of this new phenomenon, and it must be stamped out. If it isn't we will all suffer.

"I'm not going to be partisan about it, but any political party going that route should think very carefully what a bad message they are sending out."

Mr Roche also hit out at local authorities who consistently under-performed. "It is distressing to look back over 10 years of performance and you find the same local authorities year in year out at the bottom. They will have to raise their standards."

He intended to enhance the role of councillors.

"I believe that councillors are the best people to judge what is the right thing for their own communities. That is why we elect them.

"If councillors want to exercise real power, they have to be prepared to take the tough decisions when required. Sometimes this won't go down well with everybody, but we have to be satisfied that our decisions are for the general good and be prepared to defend them."