Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Senators who took part in the debate for their very constructive responses to the Bill. To take up Senator Moloney's point, and in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, it is important that we remember that while this building is a Parliament, it is also a historic building which we have a duty to protect and preserve.There are a number of things that need to be done in that regard to ensure that we keep this historic building in the safe and protected manner which is our legal obligation and to pass it on to the next generations. While that will cause significant inconvenience around the House, it will leave us with a Parliament and, more importantly, a historic building in good care and stead to pass on.

This is a suitable opportunity to make some general comments on the commission, especially as the current Dáil and Seanad draw to a close. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is an expression of a fundamental tenet of the doctrine of separation of executive and legislative powers. The financial independence of Parliament is essential to ensure the effectiveness of the process of holding Government to account. The commission built from a low base the services and connectivity essential for Members, including information and research services and transparent and accountable financial and governance systems. Examples of new or enhanced services include increased ICT facilities, new library and research services, the establishment of Oireachtas TV, which rightly allows members of the public to track our work here, and the introduction of a parliamentary legal service. Through prudent financial management, for which I pay it tribute, the commission has consistently managed its budgets so as to return a significant surplus. It has fully implemented all Government policy for the Civil Service in the areas of governance, planning, accounting, audit and value for money. Fundamentally, it operates in a transparent manner through the publication on the Oireachtas website of commission minutes, strategic plans and corporate business plans.

It is of great significance that a new Clerk of the Dáil will soon be appointed following an open completion. This competition was recently announced. The new Clerk will be expected under the terms of the Civil Service renewal plan published by the Government last year to play a key role in raising morale and productivity among staff, creating opportunities for staff to develop their talents, strengthening strategic planning capacity, assigning the appropriate staff to the right areas so that they can encourage and develop excellence and drive the modernisation process in the Oireachtas service and, overall, in ensuring that the Oireachtas service has a strong culture of leadership, excellence and continuous development. With these demands being placed on whoever becomes Clerk of the Dáil, Senators can be re-assured that the substantial progress made under the various commissions to date will be continued.

I take this opportunity to place on the record my gratitude, and I think that of all Members, for the work of all members of staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I refer to our personal staff and the staff who work in the Seanad, Dáil and committees to keep Parliament going. It is a very important role that they play. When people talk about remuneration and termination payments, they tend to focus on the public face of the office of the Deputy or Senator. However, it is right and proper that a number of Senators acknowledged the role played by our staff who work very hard to assist in our work. Sometimes, as part of the democratic process, they find themselves without employment after an election.

I draw Senators' attention to the fact that during the passage of this Bill through the Dáil, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, recorded his view that we need a mechanism to allow the incoming commission after the forthcoming general election to be as representative as possible of the Houses. It is a view that I share. Real powers are devolved to the commission and the exercise of such powers needs to have as broad a mandate from Members as possible. It is a responsibility that will fall to the membership of the next Dáil and Seanad. Overall, the commission has been able over the last 12 years to develop into an organisation which can validly be regarded as being fit for purpose for current demands. I thank the commission for its work and I hope the Bill provides clarity and transparency in terms of the funding envelope for the next three years. I commend the Bill to the House.