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

There is obviously a recruitment issue in general and many choose to leave the sector to go elsewhere for better pay and conditions, as Deputy Gino Kenny said. Of course, part of the problem is that, similar to the childcare sector, private companies that are providing home care in this country are resistant to working with people who are represented by a union. That is one of the clear issues.

I have always believed in public provision. St. Mary's Hospital in Mullingar provided the very best hospital service and it was closed. I often wonder about HIQA and the way in which it restricted those public provision homes and virtually closed it out and curtailed the numbers.

There has been a vicious cycle of poor pay and conditions which has led to a high turnover rate. We need to stop passing the buck and placing responsibility on individual carers and unions. Would the Minister of State be in favour of a registered agreement being put in place to ensure better pay and conditions for those in the sector? The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Minister for Health, Deputies Regina Doherty and Simon Harris, would help the Minister of State because I know that is not totally his area.

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