Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I made the point in the Chamber two weeks ago that our staff are parliamentary assistants, researchers, psychotherapists, sociologists and mental health experts. They are now social media gurus, journalists writing press releases and speeches, and deal with members of the public at their most vulnerable. Nobody is taking cognisance of that in officialdom. The role has changed, as has our role as parliamentarians. I will conclude on this. There are not too many coming behind me and it is an important debate.