Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The tail is wagging dog and so on. As a committee, we need to look into this matter.

The issue of agency staff was discussed yesterday at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Health. Mr. Woods said earlier that 20% would be the differential in the context of agency staff but that would depend on the job involved. Are we taking into account the considerations, such as pensions, sick pay and so on, that come with the public sector job? I imagine that agency staff do not have the benefit of the public sector pension and I am not sure what their sick pay entitlements are, although I imagine that the latter come via the social welfare system. In regard to the average of 20%, does that take into account the terms and conditions of the staff member? Is it a net figure?