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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1965

Vol. 219 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leinster House Ushers.

37.

asked the Minister for Finance why only five overcoats are issued to the 13 ushers in Leinster House; and if swapping of clothing between the ushers is considered to be in keeping with the dignity of the House of Parliament.

38.

asked the Minister for Finance what protective clothing is provided for each member of the usher staff at Dáil Éireann.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.

Each usher in Leinster House is issued with an overcoat as part of his uniform. Apart from this, a supply of five loose-fitting waterproof coats is kept for use by ushers on outdoor duty in wet weather. The supply of waterproof coats is arranged so that there is a satisfactorily fitting coat available for each usher on outdoor duty. It is standard practice that waterproof clothing is not issued on a personal basis.

Will the Minister say if he considers that it is in keeping with the dignity of Parliament that ushers who have to go out in the rain have to collect someone else's overcoat which has already been worn on duty, and is probably wet on wet days, when they are sent out on duty? Would the Minister not consider, in view of the small cost involved, that each one of the ushers should be issued with a raincoat which would fit him properly?

This practice has been found satisfactory in the past. It amounts to a question of whether the pool of waterproof coats is sufficient in relation to the number of ushers——

It is scandalous. There are five between the lot of them.

——making use of the waterproof coats. As the Deputy knows, each usher is issued with a heavy outdoor coat, not a waterproof coat, which is used by him personally. This is a question of what the total pool of waterproof coats is in relation to the number of ushers who have to go on outside duty. Recently there has been an increase in the number of ushers involved in this duty because of changes in the numbers required at the gates. If the total pool is not sufficient, that matter could be discussed. It is not proposed to award every single usher with a waterproof coat, and this has long been the tradition.

Surely the fact that the ushers are human beings and are entitled to have decent overcoats and decent waterproof coats should be taken into consideration? Does the Minister think it is in keeping with modern hygienic practice to have a waterproof coat worn by more than one usher? I am surprised that the trade unions are not doing something about this. Surely in every job the wearing of a waterproof coat by two different people on the one day is considered unhygienic?

We will want half a dozen overcoats if this strike continues.

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