Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in supporting the proposal on Seanad secretarial assistants' pay. The Leader is committed to it, as are all other Senators, so we do not need to discuss it at any great length today. We know the shortcomings and we have promised to address this issue many times, but we have not got it over the line. That is a disappointment, given that there is support for it across the Houses. I hope that we can work collaboratively in support of our amazing secretarial assistants, who support us every day of the year in doing our jobs in the Seanad.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his leadership and work on the select committee on the constitutional arrangements of the island of Ireland. Our committee meetings on Fridays have been excellent and well attended. Young people of this island spoke over the past two weeks about wanting to be part of the solution, about integrated education and about their prospects. The solidarity and purpose they showed were great. It was an eye opener. I have attended many such gatherings, but never anything with the same focus, intent and positivity. I thank the Cathaoirleach for that and for bringing the initiative to the House. I thank him for pioneering and for continuing to push for Seanad reform, which has been the hallmark of his tenure. His time is not done yet and we will have other days to thank him, but his work and that of his office are paying dividends.

If Senators can make it to the Chamber this Friday when Northern voices will be one of the themes, it would be positive. As well as engaging, we must listen. I would like to see more people on this side of the House next Friday to balance the other side, where every seat will be full. When I left last week, someone asked me how many Senators had been in the House, but I had to say that it was a select committee, not the House. That does not stop people from coming and engaging, though. To be fair to the Cathaoirleach, any Senator who was present and wanted to engage and ask questions was fully facilitated by him. I thank him for that.