Vol. 403 No. 8
32 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance when he will circulate the promised legislation to regulate (a) the payment of ministerial pensions (b) the allowances of Members (c) the establishment of the secretarial assistance service to Members on a statutory basis and (d) other related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reports 30 and 31 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the public sector deal with, among other things, the allowances of Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and ministerial pensions. The Government have already accepted the recommendations in both of these reports and the necessary legislation is in the course of preparation. I expect to introduce the Bill in the near future. Legislation on secretarial assistance involves fundamental considerations affecting Members of this House and should, I think, be considered in the first instance by the Whips.
