Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has just repeated the old mantra. He and I both know the distinction which goes back to the Health Act 1953. The reality is that the Labour Court judged in 2010 that the pay scales of similar type jobs in both section 39 and section 38 had been aligned for 15 years. Those workers took a massive hit, in common with the rest of the public sector workforce. Because there is this precedent, it is a foregone conclusion that the WRC will rule that section 39 workers are entitled to increases under the Lansdowne Road agreement. Therefore it is a question of when, not if. The Taoiseach and the Ministers, Deputies Harris and Donohoe, are placing vital services in jeopardy by withholding funding from the organisations which would have gone to provide necessary services. There is widespread support across the Oireachtas for this restoration. Some weeks ago, I sent a letter to Deputy Harris, which has not been acknowledged, from members of my technical group, Independents4Change, Solidarity - People Before Profit, supported by Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and the Rural Alliance, asking the Minister to meet with the not-for-profit organisation. He has not even replied to us.

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