Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

CE supervisors play an important role in the administration and supervision of the schemes. Strike notice has been issued for next Monday by the Fórsa and SIPTU trade unions. The schemes are vital for both urban and rural communities throughout the country. There was a Labour Court recommendation and the former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, had prepared a way to deal with this, as Deputy Calleary and others are aware. We know it will not be pensions for everybody, but there was a way. A head was put in place with the then Minister with responsibility for the environment but it fell down somewhere between the tracks. The Minister should revive that and speak to the unions involved. She will find them willing partners. This can be resolved, but the Minister cannot sit on her hands and send out bureaucratic replies. They will not work.

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