Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:

"(d)the Clerk of Seanad Éireann;".

Yesterday all sides of the House were unanimous in their belief that the Clerk of the Seanad should be a member of the commission by right. We were appalled when we read the membership list because it is patently obvious that the Clerk of the Seanad should come directly after the Clerk of the Dáil as an automatic member of the new commission. We argued strongly, particularly Senators Mansergh and O'Rourke, who are on the Government side, that there should be a reflection overnight and a change of heart.

We were appalled by the insulting argument that because the Clerk of the Dáil, who will be Secretary General and chief executive of the new body, had been Clerk of the Seanad, that should be seen as sufficient representation of the House. It was not and it is not and that is an insulting argument. In that past many Clerks of the Dáil did not come through administrative training in this House and there is no guarantee it will happen in future. We are arguing that the Clerk of the Seanad should be automatically included in the new body. We would go even further and say that not alone should the Clerk of the Seanad be an automatic member, but should be the Assistant Secretary General. This is effectively a Department of State and all Departments have Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries General. Why should the Houses of Parliament be any different when establishing a new commission?