Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I endorse the call for a debate on cycling. If the Minister comes in, he might also ensure that he is briefed on cycling to school and the equality issues in cycling because very few girls are cycling. There has been a 90% drop in girls cycling to school in Ireland, which is very unfortunate.

I also join Senator Feighan in welcoming the vote by the US House of Representatives. It is extraordinary that it is unanimous because very few unanimous decisions emerge from that House now.

I endorse the call about the secretarial assistants in the Oireachtas and specifically the Seanad. An election could have been called yesterday, not that it would have been required. If we had gone into an election this issue would not have been resolved and it has been pushed for approximately two years. The secretarial assistants have been actively seeking some form of recognition for their work. Many of them start on the scale at a salary of €23,000. It is far less than a living wage. The scale is extraordinarily low when they start. There is no way to recognise the experience and skills they bring in. If, for example, somebody studies for a bachelors degree or a masters in areas such as public policy, which are valuable to us as Members, there is no way to recognise that on the scale because it is set at leaving certificate level although many people come in with extraordinary experience and choose to work with us. Many have stayed out of loyalty. It is something to ask people to take five years out of their career for loyalty when they could be progressing. We need to consider the work of this House. This House has passed more than 35 amendments on behalf of my group since September, and I am sure other groups have done the same. Numerous items of Private Members' legislation have passed through this House and gone to the other House. Two Private Members' Bills have become law.