Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I also support the Clerk of the Seanad being represented on the commission. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, has been very positive about linking the pay of Members of the Oireachtas to a particular grade. In the past pay increases were announced, announced again when the order went before the House and announced yet again when paid. The public thought Members of the Oireachtas got three increases when there was just one. I hear the same thing on benchmarking. The media will say the first people to get the award are Members of the Oireachtas.