Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's positive comments. He is sending a signal, there is no doubt. This is a very long-running issue. We cannot continue with a situation where we are not treating our staff in an acceptable manner. That is the reality. We should not allow it to continue any longer. I accept the Minister's bona fides but he must also accept ours. This is a reasonable amendment. It provides a reasonable timescale. We are saying to come back to us within six months and to lay that report before the Houses. We have seen how long this issue has run. There is real urgency about it. The concern is that it will not be dealt with in a timely manner or that another offer will be made that is just not acceptable. I ask the Minister please to be reasonable about this because I think that we are being reasonable. We are generally on the same page. All we are saying is that in order to keep a focus on this so that we do not waste more years and expect people to survive on fairly measly starting salaries that we ensure that there is a report, that the Minister follows through on what he is saying and that he presents a report to us on the progress that has been made. It is reasonable and we ask the Minister to be reasonable and to accept that request.

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