Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In the public service there are many instances of persons who are on panels for relief work and so forth, or work in the passport office. They have accrued employment rights, must be given first refusal each year, are entitled to incremental credit and seniority claims and they are pensionable. There is a category of staff within the branches of the public service of this type and references are made to this concept of the same contract of employment, not only in the section to which the Senator referred but also in the earlier provision in section 2(4)(b)(i). The purpose of it is to protect that particular group. It is a distinct category.