Seanad debates
Thursday, 26 June 2003
Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage.
The issue of employee representatives is something that has quite strong support in the House. The Minister, Deputy McCreevy, was very firmly of the view that this would be inappropriate for the commission, which was created to enhance the role of parliamentarians in running their own business. There was intense debate on this subject at the amendment stage. One of the issues is that many of the people who work in Leinster House and who will be paid by the commission, work for individual Senators, Deputies, Ministers and political parties. A good proportion of the overall staff will not be working directly for the commission but will be paid by it. The classic worker-director situation will not really apply as it would in some semi-State companies. Social partnership has enhanced the role of worker-directors or worker representation. If the matter continues to be raised, we will see what can be done. However, the Minister is very strong in allowing the commission to be made up of parliamentarians who will decide on their own.
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