Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for their attendance. The committee has looked at this issue over many months. I have received a lot of communication and correspondence on it, particularly from the Ennis-based jobs club and people working in the local employment service in Limerick. It is an emotional issue because the services provided are person-centred and have delivered results on the ground. I empathise with the witnesses' position and support it. I note their concerns in relation to the legal situation around this and what they have been advised. We will certainly ask officials and the Minister about that.

I ask Mr. Kane to expand further on the situation in Laois-Offaly and the predicament in which the service found itself in not being in a position, legally, to submit a tender. I ask him to explain why the service felt it could not submit a tender in the context of financial risk.

On the issue of pausing the tendering process and conducting a dialogue with all of the stakeholders, what would the trade unions bring to the table to make the tender process more workable from a community perspective? What would make it more workable? The witnesses said the unions would like to see a uniform system across Ireland as some counties do not currently have these services. What would make the tender process more workable for the witnesses?