Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for raising this important matter and providing us with an opportunity to debate it in the Dáil. I welcome our friends and colleagues from section 39 organisations who are in the Visitors Gallery and thank and commend them for their work. I have met many of them in the past two years as Minister of State with responsibility for people with disabilities. I have made no secret of the fact that I have great sympathy for the workers who are affected by this issue. As Minister of State with responsibility for people with disabilities, I understand the importance of the work done by section 39 organisations. They are particularly important in the disability sector, more so than in other parts of the health service.

The Government is not putting its head in the sand on this issue. We are very aware that pay disparity within the public health sector is an increasing problem for section 39 organisations.

That is why the Government is not opposing the original motion tabled by Fianna Fáil. However, we are opposing the amendment. Our objective is to put in place a process to resolve the impasse. The Independent Alliance is very strong on this issue. I am sitting beside my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who has met the staff and the unions. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has met the unions as well. We have all sat down and listened very carefully. The Minister, Deputy Ross, and the former Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are also very supportive of these efforts.

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