M J Nolan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I wish to declare an interest at the outset — I am a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006. I hope it will have a speedy passage. The Bill makes provision for the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. It is important for Ireland, as a democracy, to have an Oireachtas which is transparent and adequately funded. I welcome the €393 million that has been approved by the Minister for Finance for the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas until the end of 2009. I commend the Minister on his support for the work of the commission.

The unanimous view of the members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission was that the translation services were creating a difficulty for us. We learned that savings needed to be made in other areas because the costs of the translation service were eating into our budget. During my time on the commission, I have found that decisions are reached by consensus, in the main. It would be a pity if we were unable to stay within our budget as a result of financial constraints which we did not bring on ourselves. I hope the Minister for Finance's commitment, which was mentioned by Deputy Finian McGrath, will be honoured. I do not doubt that it will be honoured.

It is important to remind ourselves that the commission has produced two annual reports to date, for 2004 and 2005. It has produced two sets of annual accounts, for the same years. It has published a strategic plan for 2005-06 and a further plan for 2007-09 will follow. The commission has produced four annual Estimates and 11 statutory instruments. The commission has done some work to enhance the background facilities for members. Research services have been improved, for example. Many Members are unaware of the significantly enhanced and improved services in the Oireachtas Library. Given that we are approaching a general election, it seems likely that the Members of the next Dáil will feel the full benefit of the work that has been done.

The facilities of the House have been substantially improved by the commission. The opening hours of Leinster House have been extended and the Oireachtas crèche and fitness room have been opened. While such relatively new facilities have been developed in a low-key manner, they are in place. We are slowly but firmly getting to a stage at which we can hold our own with other parliaments in more advanced and longer established democracies.

I welcome the Bill, as I said. It will transfer some of the liabilities from the Minister for Finance to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in respect of the staff of the commission, which is to be welcomed. I acknowledge and commend the members of the commission for their work. I am a relatively new member of the commission — I am probably its newest member. I could see from the outset of my membership of the commission that there was a genuine determination on the part of all the representatives of the political parties to work together, where possible. I am aware of only one occasion on which there was a division and it was of a relatively minor nature. The Independent Deputies who are not represented, including the Green Party Members, can rest assured their views are being taken into account by the membership of the commission. This is positive legislation and I hope it has a speedy passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas.

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