Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his response. I am disappointed with some of points made in the reply. The moratorium on recruitment is by definition, non-strategic, depending as it does on when a staff member may be sick or is pregnant or approaching retirement age. It does not help in achieving value for money. It may be a method for reducing staff numbers but it is not a strategic way to reduce numbers.

The Minister has stated the moratorium does not discriminate against anyone but, by definition, if maternity leave is included in the moratorium, then this discriminates against women.

I wish to read out some of the responses I have received from female civil servants-----

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