Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

Section 4 deals with a whole range of functions of the commission. One of the issues to which we alluded on Second Stage was the provision of secretarial facilities. The point was made very forcibly from both sides that in this day and age a situation where Senators have the service, on a shared basis, of one secretary is not good enough. We are entitled on our own merits to a 1:1 ratio. I am sure Deputies would make the case in relation to the increasing and onerous workload being foisted on them on an ongoing basis that they should be entitled to possibly two secretaries, one in the constituency to keep the home fires burning and another to provide day to day secretarial facilities. In this day and age, for this small Assembly of 60 Members, the minimum requirement and entitlement is a 1:1 ratio. Are there any proposals in that regard?

A matter mentioned by Senator Mansergh and one I mentioned previously on the Order of Business is the scandalous situation where the salary for incoming new recruits to the secretarial service of this House is being cut by €70. It is a competitive market, but it is also a buyers' market. Good people are out there but they are being snapped up by the private and commercial sectors. We are entitled to the best possible secretarial assistance available. Our secretaries are not simply operating word processors and typing up speeches and letters for our constituents. Good secretaries are crucial. Not only do they take care of the mundane and ordinary duties, which are important, such as typing letters and speeches, but they download material from computers. To an extent they are unpaid advisers by virtue of the fact that it is not their duty.

Many of us can testify, as I can, that our secretaries are excellent from the point of view of going after information, having the finger on the pulse, knowing exactly where to go and carrying out a whole range of exercises, public relations and otherwise, in dealing with the public when we are not around. Again, I ask the Minister to please insist that the retrograde and negative decision to cut the starting salary by €70 is reversed immediately.