Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for the broad welcome they extended to the Bill. Senator Ulick Burke outlined the work of the commission, and he stressed the importance of securing value for money in its operation. This highlights that the commission is, in substance, a board of directors for the Houses of the Oireachtas. Members of the commission, while they reflect the party balance in each House and must necessarily reflect the composition of both Houses, have a separate and independent obligation to do what is in the best interests of the Houses.

A difficulty always existed with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in each House. Given that those committees are so close to the action, a certain amount of hostilities take place. One of the advantages of the commission is that in a reflective way it allows Members to see where the long-term interests of the Oireachtas can be safeguarded and protected in our constitutional system. It is a valuable development.

As well as matters for which the commission is responsible under the primary legislation, it has a constructive relationship with the Office of Public Works on the management of the building in which the Houses are located. Far-reaching proposals were put forward by the Office of Public Works on the future development of those facilities, which is a matter the commission will consider.

Senator Ulick Burke raised the question of the costs of translation. Since the time of the first Dáil Éireann, before the present Constitution, the use of the Irish language has been part of the parliamentary language of the State. It was an innovation. The Constitution of Saorstát Éireann and our present Constitution proclaim Irish to be the national language. Historically the language always belonged to the Irish people, therefore provision must be made in the Parliament of the people for the translation of the language and the expression of the Acts of the Oireachtas in Irish or in English where the Act, as is occasionally the case, is enacted in Irish.

This involves a certain amount of work and investment. Rannóg an Aistriúcháin does sterling work for the Houses of the Oireachtas. In recent years, the courts and official languages legislation impose a far more precise obligation in the translation of enactments. We are at a stage where legislation must be translated within a short time of enactment which imposes a major additional burden on the Houses and a certain amount of discussion took place between the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and representatives of the commission about how to deal with this problem. I am glad to state the Minister for Finance gave a letter of comfort to the commission which Senator Ulick Burke outlined on the record of the House. It gives the next commission a fair wind on this subject.

Senator Mansergh maintained the experience of the commission vindicated the judgment of the Oireachtas in providing for the commission. Great tribute is due to the former Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevey, for his decision to establish the commission. It is often thought the Department of Finance was anxious to hold onto the work of supervising the expenditure in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I must state both Mr. McCreevey and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, were glad to be disembarrassed of this work and to entrust it to the commission. In many ways, the commission's relationship with the Department of Finance is like that of a line Department in the Government. However, it is under its own administration with members of the commission drawn from the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I heard the Department of Finance compared to many different entities and personalities but I never heard it compared to the tsar of Russia. It was an interesting and characteristic intervention by Senator Mansergh.