Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Cathaoirleach back.

I join Senator Gavan and others who raised the pay scale for secretarial assistants. We cannot go into an election without addressing this matter. I do not know if the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, realises the work these people carry out, especially secretarial assistants to Independent Senators who do not have party structure. In such cases, it is just the Senator and a secretarial assistant who provides more than just secretarial assistance. It is an abuse of staff in a way, and I come in here with a considerable amount of guilt every day watching the workload of Sebastian who works in my office. I think of Bill that has come through this House from me, successful policy changes within Departments and amendments that have been successfully won in this Chamber. I might come in and speak on those issues but it is not me who has sat there and worked with the different offices to draft the amendments and worked with the different agencies. The work that I do as a politician is definitely not of more value than the work that is done by the background staff in my office and I join others in calling for a debate on the issue.

I also want to raise a very special football match that is happening tonight. We were talking about a photograph of Senator McDowell from 20 years ago but I am sure he could still manage to put on a pair of runners and come out and join us on the field tonight. Oireachtas staff, politicians and journalists are playing against players from a special programme in Clondalkin called the Breakthrough Programme. The programme recognises that sometimes one needs a masculine route into addressing the issue of mental health. It was supported by Straight Blast Gym, SBG, in the first year and then the FAI and Shamrock Rovers in the second and subsequent years. It has combined sport and psychotherapy through group-led activities and has been a huge success for young, disadvantaged males in the Clondalkin area.

We are playing tonight's game on the Shamrock Rovers academy ground. The FAI cup will be there, courtesy of Shamrock Rovers. We appear to have a full team but things get in the way sometimes. One of our players, Senator Warfield, has just entered the Chamber. I hope that people will attend if they have time later. I have organised food. This is a great initiative and programme and people can come out to help raise its profile. Senator Feighan is looking a bit worried. He is still claiming an injury from three years ago when Kevin Kilbane took him off his feet but we are not going to accept that. We have six politicians saying that they will play in goal. I do not think we will be allowed to have six goalkeeping politicians. If people have a few hours tonight, it would be great to welcome them to Tallaght to be a part of a positive event before Christmas.