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

I accept what the Deputy is saying in respect of the challenges facing section 39 organisations. There were discussions between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the unions involved. We urge that those engagements would be restored and that we would have talks on this, and that the necessity for action on 17 October would be avoided. We do not want any distress caused to people who depend on these services daily. We would like to get these issues resolved and get into a process to get it resolved once and for all and on a sustainable basis.

See this speech in context