Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I support what Senator O'Rourke has just said. We have appointed worker representatives to public and State bodies. It is part and parcel of modern European social democracy. If one looks at the staff of the House, I do not think revolution tomorrow is what we are likely to be facing. If we do this on commercial State bodies, why would we not do it on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission? If we were to privatise the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas, then perhaps this would not be a clause that we would want to agree to, but I do not anticipate that development.

The general secretary of ICTU sits in this House. The trade unions have contributed an enormous amount to the prosperity of this country and the progress that has been made over the past 16 years. I wish he were here to make the case again, but I do not think that what he or the rest of us have to say should be lightly ignored. I do not see what major objective and serious reason there could be for not including a member of the Houses' staff on the commission. It is the enlightened, progressive thing to do and the Minister comes from a party that calls itself the Progressive Democrats.