Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On who can be an inspector, what I have said is that I would like to see it opening up. Obviously, it is changed by negotiation. That is what will happen.

The first thing is to say one wants it changed. While I have great faith in public health nurses, opening up the inspectorates would potentially be useful. Given the previous Labour Court decisions, it would be by negotiation.

Public sector and private sector recruitment are different processes. Public sector recruitment has timelines and guidelines and it has to be an open process. This is broader than simply recruiting inspectors. It is about public sector recruitment. As I said, the Government gave the budget, and the Child and Family Agency, previously the HSE, has got on with it. The interviews have been held and the inspectors will be in place shortly. There will be a panel. That is what is important.