Mr. Bernard Gloster:

They achieved a percentage increase last year at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, which I fully endorse and welcome. Payments in that regard have substantially advanced. There are a couple of organisations that will find it difficult to provide sufficiently accurate information to ensure the probity of it. Discussions are currently ongoing, during these weeks, at the WRC about what the improvement would be for section 39 workers now that a new public sector agreement is in place. Discussions around a further percentage increase have been positive. Not to walk away from the situation, but the HSE is not the employer in those circumstances. We fund those organisations, as does Tusla and many other State bodies. The negotiations are led by the line Government Departments and by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. My understanding is there is an attempt to give the sector a further pay award this year.