Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the joint committee's strong interest in employment services and its engagement with me and my officials as it considered its findings. However, I note that there are some inaccuracies in the committee's report, in that evidence from witnesses to the committee that is not factually accurate is repeated. One example is the claim that my Department had not engaged with SIPTU prior to 17 September 2021 but my Department first met SIPTU on this issue in 2019 and had other meetings with the union in advance of 17 September.

I look forward to responding to the joint committee's recommendations in detail. It is clear that we are all seeking to provide the best route to employment for those people who face serious and continuing challenges in returning to the labour market. Nonetheless, given the need to expand employment service provision across the State, to strengthen governance in the delivery of employment service provision and to ensure that such provision is placed on a sound legal footing, thereby meeting the State's legal obligations, my Department must continue with its plans to procure employment services in an open and competitive manner.

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