David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are people in this House who live in County Dublin but get €25,000 in travelling expenses, which is more than somebody who joins the usher service would receive. We pay tribute to them on a regular basis in this House. We say how wonderful they are and talk about the way they look after us, and yes, indeed, they do. We are all part of a family and, therefore, are responsible for each other. It is disgraceful that people on such low wages should be subject to these savage cuts, particularly when we all know they must endure anti-social hours. Some of them do not see their children from one end of the week to the other. They are here sometimes until midnight or 2 o'clock in the morning. We should have some responsibility towards these people. These are our companions. These are the people who make life work in the Oireachtas. I appeal to the speakers who come after me to strongly support our colleagues and friends - the ushers in this House - and to reject any attempt by management to impose these cuts during a period when the country is recovering without recourse or advice from either House of the Oireachtas.

I move an amendment to the Order of Business: that we take ten or 15 minutes, a very brief period, immediately after the conclusion of the Order of Business in order to make statements. I appeal to the Leader of the House to allow for a short time of ten or 15 minutes.