Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

Senator Dardis correctly said we are not concerned with semantics and the argument has been made regarding the status and autonomy of this Chamber. The key point is that acceptance of the amendment would improve the commission. I appreciate the arguments made by Senator O'Rourke and Senator Mansergh. It will be interesting to see if Senators on the other side of the House will behave like Deputy Deasy.

I thank Senator Mansergh for his research. He could not have put the argument more forcibly. The commission will create the posts of a Secretary General and six principal officers with no intermediate post, while other Departments, such as Finance and Foreign Affairs, are heavily represented with grades at a corresponding level. Despite this, the Oireachtas, which passes the legislation on which all other Departments work, cannot insist on the creation of a deputy chief executive. Senator O'Rourke put that point well.