Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for reading his script a little more quickly to allow me to make a very short contribution of just one minute or 30 seconds. Unfortunately, the Business Committee does not allow the majority of Deputies on the backbenches to make contributions in these debates. That is reserved for the Government. However, I will be here for the debate because, as a former Tús supervisor and volunteer on the board of a community crèche, I recognise the work being done here. I commend the Labour Party on bringing forward the motion and I commend SIPTU on its campaign. These organisations emerge because there are often gaps in State services or to give communities a stronger hand in how services are delivered. We must find a mechanism for the State to improve pay and conditions for the people who work in this sector because otherwise we will not retain the talent needed or recruit new staff to continue to deliver services. This work needs to continue in the background. It cannot be deferred or delayed. We need to find a solution as soon as possible.

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