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

It is the case, however, that they are not employees of the State. This is a simple fact. We are the funder or part funder of these bodies, and if employers were going into the WRC, they would not bring in their funders or their clients. It is a matter between the employer and the employees and their representatives. There is, of course, a role for the State to play, but this is an interaction that occurs between the bodies themselves and the State. Again, it is with the WRC and I hope it is being resolved there.

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