Seanad debates
Thursday, 26 June 2003
Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage.
We urgently need research services. A relevant example is that of the Northern Ireland Assembly which, with a much smaller membership than this House and far smaller than the 166 Member Dáil, has 28 full-time researchers available to Members of the Assembly. In the embryonic Parliament in Scotland, which is also much smaller than our Houses, there are 42 researchers. I could go through a list of parliaments where research facilities and the ratio of researchers to Members are quite satisfactory, in terms of providing the service which Members need. In addition to having an annual report as to how expenditure was incurred, together with total accountability and transparency, we also need to a report on the efficacy of the legislation in effecting delivery.
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