Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and all of our witnesses for the overview and their pre-budget submissions, which are very interesting and comprehensive. In regard to multi-annual funding and keeping pace with public service wages, will the witnesses speak about the difficulties that presents? It strikes me that the organisations will lose staff to another sector. I do not just mean one that might be able to pay them more money. Even where there is equality of pay, staff in the organisations cannot get maternity or sick leave, their holidays covered or career progression offered to them because the organisations do not have multi-annual funding. Will the witnesses talk about the impact this has on staffing and if there is a value-for-money argument to be made for multi-annual funding? I believe there is one but I would be interested in hearing about it from each of our witnesses in terms of being able to make plans.