Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is my understanding that childcare professionals will be able to avail of the sick pay scheme on which the Tánaiste is working at the moment. I can certainly touch base with him on that. My Department has been in constant touch with the Tánaiste because we are aware that the lack of sick pay, particularly in light of the current crisis, has been a major issue for the sector. I am happy to touch base further, but that is certainly the assumption we have been working on. While pay is absolutely important, conditions are also really important. Nobody should be coming in sick to work but particularly not childcare professionals given the vulnerability of the children they work with.

The joint labour committee is an independent process. It has been established. I got the ball rolling with the pre-process we engaged in. The Minister of State, Deputy English, has now called sides together through the Labour Court. It is now up to the Labour Court to oversee this process, by bringing together the five union representatives and the five employer representatives. I would urge them all to act quickly because we have made financial provision to deliver this.

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