Mr. Tony O'Brien:

The Government announces processes which can lead to decisions it will make. At that point, it will make the corollary funding decision. For example, in the course of this year, we have seen decisions made which have increased pay costs which have then resulted in subsequent decisions to address those pay costs. It would be strange for the Government to make those funding decisions in advance of having made the fundamental policy decision.

The question of section 39 staff is a matter of public pay policy. Persons employed in section 39 agencies are not regarded as public employees but there is a process, some of which the Deputy will be aware of, under way on those. I do not know what ultimate decision will be made on that. This year the HSE was not funded to provide funding to section 39 agencies to facilitate them in making similar pay awards to those which were made available to section 38 employees.