Many, if not most of the people who broadcast the proceedings in this Dáil who work for Oireachtas TV are on precarious, or "if and when" contracts, where they basically do not get paid if the Dáil or the committees are not sitting during Christmas, during the summer and other breaks. Most of these part-time workers earn approximately €12,000 per year. I could not believe it when they told me. A big contract is given to the company that provides these services but these workers are asking they get some kind of retainer because they have to be available to do the work of broadcasting the proceedings, which is an important role for all the parties, democracy and the Dáil. However, they are on miserable pay and conditions and the company that has been given the contract is not currently entertaining in any serious way their request for improved pay and conditions and for a retainer during those periods when they are not working. I have raised it at the Business Committee and in the Dáil previously but I would like the Government to intervene in this. It is disgraceful that people broadcasting these proceedings should be on this miserable earnings and on "if and when" contracts.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I thank those workers and everybody who works in the Oireachtas complex for the important role they play in how this place and our democracy functions, and the broadcasting of all that to the public. It is not out of any lack of sympathy or respect for the workers and the issues the Deputy raised but this is a matter for the Oireachtas. We have had significant debates about the difference between the Oireachtas and the Government in this House in recent times. My understanding is that we are shortly due to constitute the new Oireachtas commission. Perhaps that is a forum in which this could be discussed.

The Government will have members on it.

The Government will have members on it too, and Government parties certainly take precarity of employment seriously.