Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I once again acknowledge the important and valuable work done by the staff of the Irish Wheelchair Association. As the Deputy will know, in fact and in law they are not public servants, are not employees of the State or any State agency or body. Maybe they should be, but they are not. They are employed by a charity, the Irish Wheelchair Association. Having said that the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, which is an office of my Department is always available to assist in resolving these disputes. I encourage the association itself, the staff affected and their representatives to engage with the WRC and perhaps we can find a solution that way.

See this speech in context