Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McKeon and all of the officials for the work they have done over the past 18 months. It has been an extremely difficult time for everyone. I thank them for the supports provided on very short notice. I want to touch on the issue the Acting Chair, Deputy McAuliffe, raised about local employment services procurement. One of the concerns raised by some of the people working in the area is that someone working in the service for more than 20 years might be on a high salary scale while another group tendering might have people with two or three years' experience who would be on a lower pay grade. How will this be dealt with when processing applications? Will Mr. McKeon outline what are the consequences for not following the legal advice? What penalties can be imposed if we do not follow the legal advice about going through the tendering process? Has the Department engaged, and what level of engagement has there been, with the local employment schemes over recent months on this issue?