Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern. He is having a busy time in the House. It is always a great pleasure to have him here and I look forward to his responses to the contributions of Senators at the conclusion of the debate.

I admit that I was somewhat reluctant to get involved in this debate because I first need to declare an interest. As many Senators will be aware, I wear another hat as a broadcaster and have spent most of my career with RTE, the State broadcasting body. It is the nature of the type of work in which I and many colleagues who work on air engage that we are not employed as permanent members of staff but on fixed-term contracts.