I am delighted that the issue of councillors' terms and conditions has been raised. I have been raising it regularly and was the only Oireachtas Member on the review group on local government set up by the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. We surveyed councillors' terms and conditions, including their work conditions. The Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, also conducted a survey. Both surveys showed that, on average, a councillor spent 35 hours per week on council work. The case is well made for councillors' terms and conditions to be improved. In my amendment to Senators Gerard P. Craughwell and Victor Boyhan's motion, I spelled out what was proposed by the then Minister but which did not get through the process. One element was to increase councillors' annual allowance from €2,286 to €4,500. This measure has been proposed and is there to be implemented. With my amendment, I second Senator Gerard P. Craughwell's motion. I support Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor. In the previous Seanad there was a group on which Senator Diarmuid Wilson represented the Fianna Fáil Party. We met the Minister. It worked well and caused the review to happen, but this is an ongoing process. It has nearly been brought to finality-----

On a point of order, the Senator can only second one amendment.

I said I was supporting it, not seconding it.

I am sorry.

I was conscious of that. I support Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor's amendment. We can do this without any ministerial approval. The Whip of each group just needs to nominate someone, be it himself or herself. We should do it this evening. It would progress the case for councillors further. There are many new Senators. Those who are returning and those who were councillors previously know the importance to society and our communities of councillors and the work that they do.

This is a good day for councillors. We seem to be receiving cross-party and cross-group support so far today. We can make progress on this issue and bring it to finality by way of making improvements for councillors.

I support my colleagues with regard to councillors. There was a review of local government carried out in respect of the 2014 local elections. We reduced the number of councillors and expanded their jurisdictions but did not make the appropriate adjustments to allowances and expenses. In fairness to councillors, they are providing local leadership in their communities and work extremely hard. If one wants to survive as a councillor, one must put in the hard work. They are doing so. In fairness to the Minister, the matter is under review, but it is important that we have some indication from him as to the timeline. This is the issue about which I am concerned. It was raised over 12 months ago. The local elections were held in June 2014. Two years on, we are nearly half way through councillors’ term. It is now that the review should be carried out and delivered on. I have come across a number of councillors, with young families or children in third level education, who are now finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet. That must be taken into account. Will the Minister indicate when the review will be completed? It is a question of delivering on a comprehensive package and not just a question of a little tweak here and there.

On the issue of Console and the charity regulator, we need to grasp the extent of this matter. Some 2,600 organisations receive funding from the HSE, amounting to €3.6 billion per annum. We need to have proper structures in place to ensure proper auditing mechanisms. I ask the Leader to acquire some clarification to ensure all these procedures are put in place.

On a point of order, I would like the record to be clear on the fact that the review started by the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, has been completed.

I am afraid that is not a point of order.

There is no need for any other review. It is only stalling the horse.

That has nothing to do with procedure.

The review has been completed and the recommendations have been made.

I must rule the Senator out of order. He has already spoken.