Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White to the House. I commend the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas services for the work they have done. It is always incredibly difficult to be doing the same or more with less and it is good to see this is happening. As Senator MacSharry has said, such is the growing cynicism about politics that some think we ought to be paying for the privilege to be here. It is very easy for that idea to take root and it is very difficult to say to people outside the Oireachtas that if we are to do the work well, we need a system to support that work, and those who do the work very well need to be paid and treated properly and with respect. It is becoming increasingly difficult to make that case outside these walls.

I commend the Minister on his commitment to bringing forward legislation in 2013 to modernise the senior management structure. I trust the legislation is pending and that we will see it in 2013. That will afford a clear moment for people to understand how the Houses of the Oireachtas work and how the work is carried out. It will also give Members an opportunity to allay some of the growing cynicism.

Senator Barrett raised the issue of communications and the role of this Chamber. I do not know if there is an opportunity and the Leader may have a view as to how we would be able to share our thoughts on how savings can be made. Certainly Senator MacSharry has mentioned the idea of involving former members and the Captain of the Guard, but could we as Senators contribute? I do not know if there is a system by which we can do that, either formally or informally. Senator Barrett's challenge to the communications unit is a valid one, because we have been Members of the Seanad for more than a year and the workings of the House remain as big a mystery to the public now as they were then. There is an onus on us to try to make our role clear, but equally the media have some responsibility in this to try to show when we do it well and if we do it badly. That is part of the job, but somehow we seem unable to make that connection. Whether the Houses of the Oireachtas can assist us in that matter, given that there is a communications unit, is an issue we ought to raise, either through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges or through the Houses.

I commend the Bill.