Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

Senator Hanafin asked how many other jobs are there in which the person doing the job does not know whether he or she will still have it in a year's time or a few years' time. The answer is that under the current economic circumstances this applies to nearly every job. Most people working in the private sector are uncertain whether they will have their jobs, or their current incomes, in 12, 18 or 24 months' time. The point made by Senator Hanafin would have been correct a number of years ago, but the current circumstances and the profound uncertainty that is grasping our economy and society means that unfortunately, many people holding down jobs at the moment do not know whether they will have them in a year or in four years' time. Circumstances have changed such that the working conditions of most people in the private sector now resemble the contingencies and uncertainties of political life.

The point was made by a colleague earlier that a Member of this House could lose his or her position in an election regardless of performance. Again, unfortunately, those are the conditions under which most people in the private sector are operating. People who are superb contributors - who are highly productive and are doing a wonderful job - may find themselves without jobs due to exchange rates or the problems in the banks. That is the reality for people working in our economy at the moment. It is of major importance that the institutions in which we operate are reformed so they are relevant to and reflect the working lives of the taxpayers who pay for them in the first place.

Unfortunately, due to the way Fianna Fáil has operated in Government over the last 11 or 12 years, politicians have moved beyond being a laughing stock with regard to the economic issues we are discussing and become a lightning rod for public anger about where our country stands. As I make a comment such as this, far more experienced people than me could stand up and say it has always been like this; politicians have always been blamed for everything.

However, what is different now is the economic circumstances. The chief executive of IDA Ireland said recently that he expects industrial wages in some sectors to fall by 15% in the coming years. This will result in a fundamental change in working conditions, standard of living and disposable income for the overwhelming majority of people. That is why our party is supporting the Bill. If these institutions are not relevant in terms of this change, they will be irrelevant. The reason this matters is that it is these institutions, ultimately, that have the job of leading the country out of the difficulty it is in.

Some of the points I wished to make about this legislation have been touched on by my colleague Senator Twomey. However, they are worth emphasising. Senator Twomey mentioned ministerial salaries. As I walk into Leinster House in the morning I look at the great figures from all political parties that founded this country and consider the conditions of austerity in which they did it. If they were around now and saw that the average Cabinet Minister is paid at least €200,000 per year to perform his or her job, they would wonder where we went wrong. What happened to the spirit of service? What has happened to the austerity that needs to be adopted by the holders of high office as our country goes through these changes? As I have said before, the salaries of those holding high office - both elected and unelected - must be radically reduced so that they can regain the moral ground to lead our country through these changes.

Other colleagues mentioned the contribution people make to legislation in the House. Senator Twomey made a point which I know from my short time in the Oireachtas to be only too true. One's performance in terms of legislation, while it is sometimes said to be important, is not often acknowledged as such. However, it is within our grasp to change this. The Houses of the Oireachtas should publish on a quarterly basis figures pertaining to the attendance, contributions and roles of Members. One can find this information on the Internet. There is a website that provides details of how many times I or Senator Twomey spoke in the House. If a website can provide such information, why can the Houses of the Oireachtas not provide it in a way that is verified and accurate and shows the performance - and, at times, lack of performance - of Members, who are funded by the taxpayer? Such changes, if implemented, would ensure these Houses are not on the back foot in leading the change that needs to happen.

The issue of swipe cards was raised. I used a swipe card for ten years of my life in the private sector. I swiped it every morning to say I had arrived at my workplace. Are we seriously suggesting that such a system is not appropriate for the place that is supposed to be leading the country? The comment that we are not factory workers was a new low in terms of how out of touch we can be with the lives of the people we represent and serve. People attend here every morning and say that we need to get more factory workers into the country, rebuild manufacturing and get people into high-tech services and jobs that create value. These are the people who will come to their places of work and prove they are in attendance, and they will be paid in return. Why is that not appropriate for this House?

The point has been made that Members may be obliged to leave the Houses between votes to attend committee meetings, to deal with the other work relating to their office or, if they enjoy the luxury of being able to do so, to visit their families. However, I do not believe it would be a great imposition to introduce a simple system that would indicate one was in attendance or that one entered the Houses of the Oireachtas at some point during a sitting day. Such a system would illustrate that we are willing to proceed with the same type of reform we are asking members of the public to embrace.

I wish to comment on the idea that members of the public do not understand that a sword hangs over all our heads in respect of our gaining re-election. There are many people who understand what it is like to lose their jobs. Through no fault of their own, the sword has fallen on these people and their lives are filled with dread, particularly in the context of what will happen to their families and what has happened to their bank balances.

I emphasise the utter political responsibility of Fianna Fáil in allowing matters to reach this stage. It is unbelievable that legislation such as this is necessary to cosset people in respect of their concerns. I support the Bill but we should go further. In the context of the change that will unfold in our country in order for our democracy to survive, the legislation is but a starting point.