John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot say I am surprised or shocked by the evidence given by the witnesses today. Throughout the tenure of a number of Governments, the State has shown scant regard for front-line workers except, of course, when the house is on fire, when a pandemic is under way or when something terrible is happening. In those cases, the State is wonderful. The hypocrisy, disrespect and disregard for front-line workers shown by the HSE, the five Government Departments involved and the Government itself demonstrated by the evidence the witnesses have given at this hearing is shocking. This is now continuing in the discussions which Ms Ní Sheaghdha says the INMO is not party to and in the survey which Mr. Bell says SIPTU was excluded from. If anything is to come out of this committee today, it is the clear support for the restoration of leave used and pay lost by employees in dealing with childcare issues. I agree with Mr. Bell that this is not just about our health services; it goes right across all front-line workers, whoever they are. Were Mr. Bell's colleagues in other unions involved in this survey? Why does he think he was excluded?