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Irish Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
TDs and senators question if €7m Dáil broadcasting contract is value for money
A cross-party group of 125 TDs and senators, including a Government Minister, has called for a review of the estimated €7 million contract for audio and video coverage of Oireachtas proceedings, with questions around its value for money. In a letter to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, which runs Leinster House, the public representatives, including Minister of State Jerry Buttimer , said there is a 'compelling case' for the commission to directly employ the 10 full-time and 20 part-time professional broadcast workers providing the coverage, 'given the extremely concerning working conditions and pay issues'. They allege 'precarious and uncertain working hours, withdrawal of pay during Oireachtas recess periods – including Christmas – lack of pension entitlements, pay that is significantly below the industry norm, lack of any retainer payment and a culture of criticism from management'. 'These workers are left to rely on social welfare for periods when the Oireachtas is not in session.' READ MORE The letter also says 'it is difficult to see what a contract with a private company adds to the services they provide given that all the skilled work is carried out by these workers and their equipment is provided by the Oireachtas itself'. The first five-year contract was issued in 2011 for €7 million. TDs and senators are attempting to establish the current value of the contract 'and how this money is spent'. Pi Communications, the current contractor, which provides a similar service to the Northern Ireland Assembly , has said the contract operates on a 'pay per public minute model'. Based on the 2011 contract, this meant €250 an hour for each hour of broadcast, as well as an overall contract fee. The employees broadcast the live feeds of the Dáil, Seanad and committees. They also oversee the archiving of all feeds. The company said the workers have a guaranteed fixed amount of work 'each full sitting week', with 'certainty of income for their contracted work'. However, one employee, who did not want to be named, said most of the employees are on 'casual part-time contracts' with 'only one day a week guaranteed, which is very precarious'. Some workers have no guaranteed days and are only brought in occasionally, the employee said. In response, Pi Communications said: 'We are surprised and disappointed that some who have commented on our operations did not first fact-check the accuracy and veracity of ill-founded claims.' The company said the employees earn substantially more than the national living wage, with attractive bonus arrangements and receive paid leave and sick leave. Employees 'are free to work on other projects or for other employers, as is the norm in our industry'. It said salaries are regularly benchmarked and commensurate with roles, skills, experience and responsibilities. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, who co-ordinated the TDs. and senators' letter, said public representatives question 'the value for money' the contract provides. They believe it would be cheaper for the Oireachtas to pay the workers directly. He said the 'only overheads in the contract would seem to be the employees' pay', as the equipment is supplied by the Oireachtas. The issue has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee and to the Oireachtas Media Committee. The letter says the contract is due for renewal this year. It adds that any review should include an in-depth investigation into the issues raised by the broadcast workers, which they have previously attempted to resolve through industrial relations mechanisms. Included in the group of 125 calling for the review is Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan, and former journalists Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) and Alison Comyn (Fianna Fáil), both of whom are senators. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has said the workers and Pi Communications are in dialogue at the Workplace Relations Commission and it would not be appropriate 'to undermine the industrial relations process'.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Oireachtas broadcast workers call for pay parity and better working conditions
Oireachtas broadcast workers are calling on the Government to end their low-hour contracts and poor working conditions by integrating them into the civil service. The team of around 20 manage the live broadcast of all Dáil, Seanad, and committee proceedings ensuring they are all accessible to the public. However, the team said they are currently being paid half the standard industry rate for comparable roles and are calling on the Government and the Oireachtas Commission to take action to ensure they are "treated with the fairness and respect we deserve". The workers report earning around €12,000 per year. "The Oireachtas sits only about 100 days a year. Outside of those days, we have no income and often rely on social welfare," the group said in a statement. We receive no retainers, paid holidays, pensions, healthcare, or income protection — unlike many public workers in the same building. As they are privately contracted, recesses and election cycles can leave some workers without work for weeks or months, with those who work on committee session having been without work since the general election was called in November until this week. The Oireachtas broadcast contract, worth over €7m, was awarded to Pi Communication in 2020. Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly told the Seanad that Pi Communications are paid to roster staff, as all cameras and equipment belong to the Oireachtas. The contract with Pi Communications is up for renewal this year and the broadcast workers are calling for pay parity with industry standards, to be integrated into the civil service, "with proper contracts, year-round pay, and access to pensions and career progression". Previous efforts to engage with Pi Communications through their trade union did not result in offers that were acceptable to the workers. "With political will, this can be resolved—quickly and fairly. We uphold democratic transparency every day," the broadcasting team said. It is time we were treated with the fairness and respect we deserve. Ms O'Reilly said that the Government has a duty of care to ensure that workers are treated fairly. "Not only are people being subjected to unfair work conditions but it is costing the Oireachtas and therefore the taxpayer more money to employ these workers through a private contract than it would be employ them directly," Ms O'Reilly said. "There is no point in us standing up and delivering grand speeches on the importance of workers rights when there are people working hard only a few rooms over trying to get by on €12,000 per year." Footage captured by the Oireachtas team is regularly picked up and used by Irish and international broadcasters, as well as by political parties for use on their own social media. It is also archived for public record. The workers raised additional issues that they would like to see addressed including no access to a dedicated HR department as employees of an external contractor, access to just one toilet cubicle for 35 staff members, and lack of access cards for some staff to access areas of Leinster House.
