David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The last part of the Minister's response sums up the problem. This does not relate to CE workers alone, although these supervisors are at the heart of this particular Topical Issue. We are increasingly seeing an outsourcing of State work to private companies. These are almost fully grant-supported by the State, yet the terms and conditions of employment for those who work in the companies are different from those of public sector workers. They also do not have the requisite pension entitlements. This is unfair on those workers and they are being penalised. I, too, am concerned about what I am hearing with regard to the high level forum and what might come back from it. The response is pretty much the same to that of the past two and a half years. This response is teeing up a response that there is nothing which can be done as it would create a precedent and the organisations and the State cannot afford to cover the costs. That is the writing on the wall. It is deeply cynical and disappointing. We will await the report but we will be back. The Labour Court recommendation should be implemented in full.

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