Vol. 553 No. 2
214 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if it is open to a Deputy to contract the services of a secretarial assistant on a one-year basis rather than for the duration of a Dáil; if so, if the secretarial assistant would have entitlement to VER plus statutory redundancy in the event that the contract was not renewed after the first or subsequent yearly contract periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/02]
An agreement entered into with a union negotiating on behalf of the secretarial assistant grades in 1997 contains provisions that enable Deputies to enter into a contract of employment with their secretarial assistants for the duration of a Dáil. Arrangements were recently instituted under which persons employed as secretarial assistants, administrative assistants, or administrators who cease to be so employed as a result of post-electoral changes, or persons choosing to leave such employment, would be offered a payment of a lump-sum based on length of service. Such a payment would be conditional on the person ceasing to be paid not later than 28 June 2002 and subject to certain other conditions. The scheme will not continue beyond the date specified in the case of staff working for Deputies and political parties or, in the case of their counterparts employed by or on behalf of Senators, two weeks after the Seanad elections. Eligibility for payments under the Redundancy Payment Acts, 1967 to 2001, is determined by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I have no function in the matter.
