Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I understand the Deputy's position, but I do not agree with it. It is patently obvious that elected Members of the Oireachtas are not like ordinary public servants who have a career path and a contract of service. They cannot be fired in the middle of their careers only to be rehired after a few years. It would be an anomaly for a person who served for 15 years in the Oireachtas before losing his or her seat to be debarred from picking up where he or she left off if he or she is re-elected. With all due respect, many decent and hard-working Members who contributed to their pension schemes over many years have lost their seats when their parties have been caught in political tsunamis. The Senator's party often likes to be particularly hard on elected Members of these Houses because it bestows a certain public cachet. I think what I am saying is objectively reasonable.