Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach inniu. Is dócha go bhfuil sé gnóthach mar Aire.

I want to use the opportunity to praise the secretarial assistants. I am only a Senator for a year and a half, and I am completely blown away by the role of a Senator. Until I became one, I had no idea of what was involved, even though I have been engaged in politics for my entire life. Not only is my role insane, but the role of my poor secretary is a lot more insane. As a Senator, not only are we part of the Upper House of the Legislature, but we are also seen by the masses as a public representative on a local and national level. Unfortunately, as a result, our secretarial assistants have to be the backbone of the support for us in dealing with all of that on every level, from an individual looking for a medical card to foreign trade agreements. The range is vast. Secretarial assistants have to be our researcher, personal assistant and secretarial assistant. It is so stressful on them. In some ways I feel bad about the stress we put them under, which is not reflected at all in the pay they are on. We need to upgrade their position.

This came to light within a few weeks of me becoming a Senator and we formed a group within our parliamentary party. My colleagues, Deputy Duffy, Deputy Costello and I set up a working group on SA pay. We have worked with the Minister on this. I hope this Bill will be satisfactory for secretarial assistants because they have earned it. Many Members have spoken in the debate. The entire Upper House would support the Minister on this, because we all appreciate our secretarial assistants, but their pay is embarrassing for what they are expected to do. They are far from being secretarial assistants.