Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did that yesterday. To ensure that I would give due credit and regard to the people who carry out our CE work, which is a very valuable service throughout every county, I wrote to them yesterday giving them assurances that there will be absolutely no review of their funding, capitation, training or otherwise on foot of any action their employees take.

The difficulty, however, is that the supervisors are the host companies' employees, not State employees. We recognise the Labour Court ruling that was issued a number of years ago between the employees and the employers, to which the State was not a party, and we are endeavouring with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to work with the unions. Many meetings have taken place over the last six months to try to find a solution, but none has yet been found. However, we will not give up until we find one.

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