Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister said, this is largely a technical Bill providing for a three-year funding cycle that allows for the commission to fund the pay and pensions of elected Members of the House and their staff and other workings of the Oireachtas. I understand the urgency of that. I take this opportunity to pay tribute and to thank the staff here in the Houses of the Oireachtas. We all know this place simply would not work without them. The exceptional nature of the work that is done here gives us pause to consider how inoperable this House would be but for the good work that is done, as well as the fair and unbiased way in which that work is done. I thank the staff. Many times I have sought assistance from committee staff and others who do a phenomenal job, often under pressure and in hours that certainly are not social. I acknowledge the co-ordination of the committees and the witnesses and all of the meetings that take place here and the due diligence taken around that.

I also acknowledge how important the ICT security is in a building like this. As we are faced with ever more challenges around ICT security, it is important that we have foresight in that. As the Minister said, with the developments of AI and all of the other challenges it is important that we are on top of that and that things are continuously reviewed to ensure we withstand those challenges.

People want to know that we are getting value for the money that is provided. In terms of undertaking constituency work and representing the people of Mayo, I have used the parliamentary questions function almost on a daily basis, so I thank the staff who co-ordinate that function. I note that the audited accounts of the commission in the most recent annual report show the cost of running the Houses came in under budget. Thankfully, I have not had cause to seek support regarding personal safety and security here but I know this is also a key function undertaken by the commission. I commend the efforts taken to keep those in politics safe, particularly women, in order to encourage other women and other people to join the Oireachtas.

I commend everybody who is going forward for election. It is important however, that no matter where people work, in whatever part of society, that they are safe where they work, not just in the Oireachtas but in retail and everything else. We have spoken many times here about resourcing An Garda Síochána and what needs to be done there.

Since part of this Bill relates to the salaries of parliamentarians I would like to clarify that Sinn Féin's support for the Bill in no way constrains the next Government from reducing elected representatives' salaries. On that subject, as part of our alternative budget proposition under a Sinn Féin Government, the salary of the Taoiseach would be cut by €65,000. We would also reduce by 50% the salary top-ups to the Tánaiste, Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State.

I have not much more to say on the Bill other than we absolutely need to get value for money. We all know that. I am sure there are workers within the Oireachtas here who were as appalled as I was about the bike shelter built out the back for €336,000. We must have the correct controls in place and continuous evaluation of all this. We have to ensure that hard-earned taxpayers' money does not continue to be wasted.

I commend the staff here in the Oireachtas on the value for money they provide to the people of this country.

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