Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and support the Bill. It is very brief. If the Cathaoirleach will pardon the pun, it is getting our Houses in order here and gathering up a few ends. I have not sat on the commission but compliment it, as Senator MacSharry did, as it has achieved an overall reduction over the years. Of course it will go up in line with a general election when the redundancy payments will be paid out to people.

As Senator Bradford said, a lot of our staff beaver away in the background. They work late nights at the drop of a hat. We could be sitting until 11 p.m. and the staff and the clerks here are sitting recording and doing what they do without any complaint. It is time we paid tribute to the staff who work in our offices as secretarial staff and to the staff of both Houses. I have never heard a comment or complaint from them. The guys up there at the back are always there to help keep us on the straight and narrow when we are sitting in as Acting Chairman. There is great credit due to them. If some of them are retiring, they are more than entitled to their redundancy payments. When there is forced retirement of our staff, in terms of us losing our seats, they are certainly entitled to it. They are only earning a day's pay and they are entitled to their redundancy.

I just asked the Minister of State if the refurbishment of this House and the offices here came under the commission's remit, but apparently that project is under the OPW. After the next Seanad election there will be big changes. There will be no House here as this Chamber will not be in operation for the best part of two years, I think. I do not know if the decision has been made as to where the Seanad is going to be located. If we are outside the Leinster House complex and are going across the street to take votes and things, it is going to be awkward for staff and Members. It will be dealt with in due course by whomever will be here.

It is so important to put our words of thanks to both Houses. I support the Bill.