Richard Boyd Barrett Highlights Precarious Pay for Dáil Broadcasters
Richard Boyd Barrett raised concerns about Roktas TV staff who broadcast Dáil proceedings, saying many are on precarious "if and when" contracts and earn about €12,000 a year. He urged the Government to intervene, saying the contracted company has not seriously engaged with requests for a retainer and improved pay.
Richard Boyd Barrett said many of the people who broadcast the proceedings in the Dáil for Roktas TV work on precarious contracts, do not get paid when the Dáil or committees are not sitting, and are earning about €12,000 a year. He pointed to a substantial contract with the company providing the services while those doing the work face what he called miserable paying conditions.
The speaker reported that the workers have asked for some kind of retainer so they can be available to broadcast proceedings outside of sitting periods, including during Christmas, summer and other breaks. He said the contracted company is not currently entertaining those requests in any serious way.
Richard Boyd Barrett said he has raised the issue at the Business Committee and in the Dáil and asked the Government to intervene on behalf of the workers. He described it as disgraceful that people broadcasting these proceedings should be on such low earnings and on "if and when" contracts.
A reply acknowledged the important role of those who work in the Oireachtas complex and said the matter is one for the Oireachtas. The respondent noted that the new Oireachtas Commission is due to be constituted shortly, suggested it could be a forum to discuss the issue, and said the Government will have members on it and takes precarity of employment seriously.
Allegations about pay and contracts
Richard Boyd Barrett said many of the people who broadcast the proceedings in the Dáil for Roktas TV work on precarious contracts, do not get paid when the Dáil or committees are not sitting, and are earning about €12,000 a year. He pointed to a substantial contract with the company providing the services while those doing the work face what he called miserable paying conditions.
Workers' request for retainers
The speaker reported that the workers have asked for some kind of retainer so they can be available to broadcast proceedings outside of sitting periods, including during Christmas, summer and other breaks. He said the contracted company is not currently entertaining those requests in any serious way.
Call for Government intervention
Richard Boyd Barrett said he has raised the issue at the Business Committee and in the Dáil and asked the Government to intervene on behalf of the workers. He described it as disgraceful that people broadcasting these proceedings should be on such low earnings and on "if and when" contracts.
Government response and Oireachtas Commission
A reply acknowledged the important role of those who work in the Oireachtas complex and said the matter is one for the Oireachtas. The respondent noted that the new Oireachtas Commission is due to be constituted shortly, suggested it could be a forum to discuss the issue, and said the Government will have members on it and takes precarity of employment seriously.
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Transcript
The people who broadcast the proceedings in this Dáil, who work for Roktas TV, many of them, most of them, are on precarious contracts, if and when contracts, where they don't basically get paid if the Dáil isn't sitting, if the committees aren't sitting during Christmas, during summer, during breaks. Most of these part-time workers are earning about €12,000 a year. I couldn't believe it when they told me. There's a big contract given to the company that provides these services, but these workers are asking that they should get some kind of retainer, because they have to be available in order to do the work of broadcasting the proceedings, which is a very important role for all the parties, democracy and the Dáil, but they are on miserable paying conditions. The company that was given the contract is not entertaining currently, in any serious way, their request for improved paying conditions and for retainer during those periods that are not working. So I would like the Government, I have raised it at the Business Committee, I have raised it at the Dáil before, I would like the Government to intervene in this. It is disgraceful that people broadcasting these proceedings should be on those miserable earnings and on if and when contracts. Thanks very much. Thanks to Deputy Boyd Barrett for raising the issue and thank you to those workers and everybody who works in the Oireachtas complex for the important role they play in how this place functions and our democracy and the broadcasting to the public. It is not out of any lack of sympathy or respect for the workers and the issues you raised, but I would point out this is a matter for the Oireachtas. We have had very significant debates around the difference between the Oireachtas and the Government in this House in recent times. My understanding is that we are due to very shortly constitute the new Oireachtas Commission and perhaps that could be a forum in which this could be discussed. The Government will have members on it too and Government parties certainly take precarity of employment very seriously too. Thank you very much.