Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The significance of the badge is that the Minister is prepared to advertise his support for women who fought for their rights 100 years ago. He has a practical opportunity here to demonstrate his support workers, largely women workers, who are fighting for their rights today yet these workers are left to face the prospect of picket lines next week because of inaction on his part. Their case is unanswerable. So unanswerable is it that their own employers in the sector have accepted that pay parity is warranted. Solidarity stands foursquare behind the thousands of section 39 workers who are fighting for pay justice and preparing for industrial action next Wednesday. The Government, the HSE and the Minister must see sense before the deadline for action. If they do not, the responsibility for any ensuing disruption and stress will be entirely on their shoulders, including the Minister's shoulders.

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