Derek McDowell (Labour)

I ask the Minister to check this between now and Report Stage. There is an increased difficulty because of the legislation passed last year dealing with fixed-term contracts and the need to roll those into a permanent contract. I understand that rolled over fixed-term contracts cannot exceed four years. There is some doubt as to how this applies to Members' secretaries. If they became entitled to permanent positions presumably employed under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, clearly there would be implications as to how the pension arrangements would apply.