Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am well aware of the issues with section 39 and other organisations whose main funding relationship is with other Government agencies and Departments. I would encourage both parties back to the table at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. I certainly have a role in government in terms of explaining and pushing the value of community and voluntary organisations with other Departments. We have an agreed approach across Government in terms of how we engage with the community and voluntary sector, and the values and principles document, which has been agreed by all Departments in terms of how we engage with the community and voluntary sector, is a useful guide going forward.

The implications of the pay gap for community and voluntary organisations, particularly section 39 organisations, were laid out to me in some detail by the local group Prosper Fingal, which does amazing work in north County Dublin. I met its CEO recently and I certainly took away some key messages from him that I have brought to senior Government Ministers.

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