Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with colleagues in support of the need for secretarial assistants to have their pay rate increased. Senator Gavan spoke about the meeting. Maybe the Cathaoirleach, as a member of the commission, might explain to the House why the commission has not supported or made a recommendation that secretarial assistants of the Seanad would be promoted to the position of parliamentary assistant? The role, as we all accept, has changed and evolved since it began in this House. We need a bit of honesty in this House as Members about our staff. The role is not secretarial assistant; it is parliamentary assistant. As Senator Ruane rightly said, it is about drafting legislation, doing social media, researching legislation, writing speeches, answering queries, interacting with the public, lobby groups and NGOs and working with councillors. That is the role of a parliamentary assistant, in my opinion. We should be honest as Members. The Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and members of the commission should support the change in the position from secretarial assistant to parliamentary assistant. That is what we should be doing if we are to be honest about it. Let us stop the pussyfooting and the carry on. The commission should lead on this matter in my opinion.

I want to make a second point this morning in the time left to me. I ask that the deputy Chief Medical Officer would apologise to the Irish people following his remarks history about schools. We were told repeatedly that schools were safe places.