Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Every effort should be made through the normal industrial machinery mechanisms in this State to resolve this issue. The HSE believes this industrial action will significantly impact on the children’s disability network teams and other multidisciplinary services, potentially leading to appointments having to be rescheduled and so on.

I acknowledge the important role that section 39 workers and organisations play in our health and disability services. They have a key role to play in providing services to people, both those with disabilities and older people. As the Deputy is aware, it is a complex area, with about 2,240 organisations under section 39 across the country employing about 100,000 staff. In our view, it is just like previous occasions in that when issues arose they were resolved between union and employer negotiations involving the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and others.

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