Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that useful response. It is good to know that the business case is with the Department. I again emphasise this is a unique group of workers. They are the only workers who have no access to the Labour Court and the WRC and they cannot go on strike so they do need political and ministerial intervention to ensure a level playing field. In the grand scheme of things €6 million is small money in respect of solving the crisis and that is the headline figure. I encourage the Minister to look favourably on that business case. This is an eminently solvable problem. There is a great opportunity in 2023 to put this right and ensure we get the recruitment so that the Naval Service can regenerate itself over time.

I wish the Minister the best of luck with his new role on Saturday and I look forward to further engagement over the next couple of years.

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