Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do have a number of questions that I intend to pursue. I have waited patiently until now.

First, it generally goes without saying that if people take a wage or salary cut, there is an expectation of restoration. Did the HSE give any indication at the time of the cuts that section 39s would be treated separately or that it would be difficult to achieve restoration in their particular cases? Second, are the witnesses aware of any particular reason the HSE might have for slowing the process down at this stage? Are the witnesses aware of any implications their claim may have for other organisations in the wings? To the witnesses' knowledge - this is a question for the HSE - did the HSE recognise there would have to be restoration at some stage? Did it ignore it? Did it make provision for it in its budgetary submission for the current year? If not, why not? To what extent did it make the provision? Further, the witnesses have been to the Labour Court, which found in their favour. How does the HSE respond to this other than by bringing them in a continuous and indefinite circle? Has it had recourse to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, DPER, in the first instance or has it attempted to resolve the issue itself? Has the HSE gone back in a sequence of events to DPER and said it cannot go any further? To recognise the work done by the section 38 and section 39 organisations, and recognising the increasing demands on the services of their members, now and likely into the future to a greater extent, can the witnesses give me any indication as to what alternative provision the HSE has in its mind if it does not propose to face the realities of restoration and its ongoing and obvious consequent costs? Lastly, in the event of a shrinking of section 39 staff members in the various organisations, who will carry responsibility for the work that will not be done by the witnesses' membership? I thank the Chairman. He must admit the questions were well worth waiting for.