I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well on his appointment. I am sure he will do an excellent job. I am disappointed the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is not in the House to take this matter but I am sure the Minister of State is fully briefed on all aspects of local authorities.
As a former member of the Local Authority Members' Association, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, is the one person all the local authority members look to for guidance. They place their trust in him that more powers will be given to local authorities in the next couple of months. I also wish the Minister for the Environment and Local Government well in his portfolio. It is appropriate that this matter be dealt with at this time as the Minister is bringing about changes in the structure and funding of local authorities. There will be no change in local authorities unless they are given powers to raise funds and change their structures.
This matter relates to members' attendance and expenses for attending local authority meetings. We are all aware that if members do not attend at least 80 per cent of local authority meetings, they will not be paid. It is right that members should not be paid for meetings which they have not attended. If a member is sick, allowances should be made. A local authority should have discretion in relation to members' expenses, particularly if they have been ill. It is unfair if a member, who is sick for 30 per cent of meetings and attends the remaining 70 per cent, does not qualify for payment for attendance. I hope the Minister will consider this matter in the review of the local authority system and give local authorities discretion so that they may decide if a member is genuinely sick and should be paid for attending meetings.
I raise the question of county enterprise boards. A number of local authority members are on county enterprise boards and they do not qualify for expenses. It is unfair that members of local authorities must sit with other board members on county enterprise boards who qualify. We all appreciate the value of the work they do.