Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

On that point, we will have to agree to disagree. It is not credible for the State to say that while it provides 100% of the funding for essential services which are provided by voluntary organisations in the community, the wages have nothing to do with the State because the employees of those organisations are not public sector employees. They obviously do. During the recession, serious cuts were taken by public servants and section 39 workers because core State funding to these organisations fell considerably. The only way they have to increase wages is through increases in core funding from the State. It is not reasonable, therefore, for the Minister, or anyone in his position, or for us as legislators to say it is not really our problem. It really is our problem.