Leas cathaoireach, Mr Liam Cosgrave was praised by Mr Joe Costello (Lab) for the role he had played in resolving the difficulties that had been experienced over facilities for members. Mr Costello said he also wanted to acknowledge the assistance given by House leader, Mr Donie Cassidy, in this regard.
Fine Gael Seanad leader, Mr Maurice Manning, had earlier expressed satisfaction that a commitment had been given about extra space and additional secretarial assistance. He thanked other Seanad groups for their support in what his members had been trying to achieve.
Mr Cassidy had striven, in the best traditions of the House, to do his best for all groups, added Mr Manning. "The reason why we experienced these difficulties was because there is no satisfactory mechanism whereby this House can regulate its own affairs. We should not have to depend on the goodwill or the grace of a civil servant in the Department of Finance or the Government chief whip of the day as to the allocation of secretaries and rooms."
This was a matter for the House Committee on Procedure and Privileges or for some other body set up by the Seanad, said Mr Manning.
Mr Cassidy said he would request that the topic be placed on the agenda for a meeting of the CPP after Christmas in order to ensure that there was no recurrence of the problems that had arisen.