I understand that amendments Nos. 53 and 56 are being discussed together. The Bill stipulates who will be the members of this commission, namely, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach, an appointee of the Minister for Finance who must be a Member of either House, four Members of the Dáil, three Members of the Seanad and the Secretary General. These amendments propose that, in addition to those 11 members, there should also be two members of the staff of these Houses. They propose an opportunity of voting for two staff members to the commission.
In this day and age, it is ridiculous to set up a body such as this, which will ignore the staff of the Houses. We have 226 elected representatives between the Seanad and the Dáil and 800 to 900 members of staff. Their fate in terms of salaries, terms of employment and working conditions will be determined by the commission. However, this Government does not see fit to give them a say in the running of the Houses by allowing them to elect members to this commission. This is regrettable.
I have been in Leinster House for 14 years. In those 14 years, I have never encountered anything but courtesy from the staff of these Houses. Wherever one goes, from the front gates, where one meets the ushers, to the general office, from one's office to the restaurant and the bar, one meets helpful, courteous and dignified people. I have yet to meet someone who is not worthy of working here or who does not do a good job. It is negligent of this Government to turn its back on those staff members.
I cannot understand how the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, will not concede to staff members being on the commission. I hope when he replies that he will outline some logical reasons why those people are excluded. Is the Minister of State afraid to have staff members on the commission? Is he afraid they might have some say in the running of these Houses? They would bring much to the commission in their involvement in the running of these Houses. The Minister of State, unfortunately, is presiding over a situation that will exclude them. In recent decades, we have had a system of State boards on which there are worker-directors. However, in the Parliament, we are setting up a commission and ignore any possible input from the staff. There is no logical reason for this. It amazes me that we can preside over this exclusion.
Ministers may wonder how we will proceed with this issue. I assure them I will call for a vote on this amendment. The Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat Members can then pass through the lobbies and state that they do not want staff members on this commission. That is the question that will be put to them. Then they can go out of this Chamber and see the people on whom they have turned their backs who will feel they are not worthy of becoming partners in the running of the Houses. By becoming partners, the staff will become the guardians of democracy in this State.
What is the logic of such exclusion? I do not want a highfalutin response from the Minister of State. I want clear, straight facts why this Government does not want staff members on this commission. We must hear a full and logical explanation and must set it out clearly to staff why the Government is turning its back on them.
We have excellent, courteous staff members who do their jobs extremely well and of whom we can be proud. When we bring visitors to the Houses – not just from the State, but from all over the world – the staff treat them in a manner befitting this House. However, the Minister of State and the Government do not see fit to allow the staff the courtesy of having a say in the running of the Houses. It is regrettable and I will press this amendment to a vote.
