TDs have promised to back more than a dozen Oireachtas broadcasting workers who do not get paid when the Dáil and Seanad are not sitting.
This has left them struggling to support their families and it makes things like applying for a mortgage very difficult, they say.
Several of the workers, who help produce the broadcasting footage from the Dáil, Seanad and Committee proceedings, gathered at the gates of Leinster House this morning to highlight the issue.
The group, who are classed as part-time and casual workers, say they earn an average of €12,000 annually and are calling for rates and conditions to be immediately linked to industry norms.
Any future broadcasting contract awarded by the Oireachtas Commission should also contain a clause to ensure this happens, the workers believe.
They say that it is not consistent for Oireachtas members to highlight workplace issues in other sectors while this is happening in Leinster House.
Independent presidential Catherine Connolly described the workers' calls as very reasonable and vowed to pursue the matter.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said that her party would now raise the issue and suggested that it could be examined by a number of Oireachtas Committees.
The workers were also supported today by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and PBP-Solidarity.
A spokesperson for Pi Comms said the company, which broadcasts the Dáil and Seanad, was selected by the Oireachtas following a transparent and competitive open tender and it has twice been re-appointed.
"For the avoidance of doubt, rates of pay of all part-time staff supporting this contract are regularly benchmarked against industry norms and their total earnings are proportionate to the overall work undertaken throughout the year. All staff have pension entitlements, receive holiday pay, sick leave and sick pay.
"They are also free to work on other projects or for other employers and most do," the spokesperson said.
