Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome any move in respect of lifting or easing the recruitment embargo. We have all seen at first hand the negative effect of under-staffing, including the stress on staff themselves, and the consequences for service users.

Can we tease things out a little bit? The Minister says that the function of recruitment will be delegated to Departments which will have to operate within their budgetary ceilings. Can the Minister give an assurance that other standards will also be applied and that, for instance, there will be no so-called yellow pack recruitment? Will there be an adherence to established pay levels? Does the Minister envisage that outsourcing will form part of this new recruitment and staffing scheme?

Will the positions be part-time in nature or will they be full-time, permanent and properly paid?

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