Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Earlier today, I stood with Labour colleagues outside Leinster House in solidarity with staff from the national advocacy service and SIPTU members who have been left with no option but to resume strike action because of the failure by management to respect Labour Court recommendations. I heard the Taoiseach's earlier response and I listened to it very carefully. He mentioned benchmarking. I would like a little clarity on that. It boils down to a simple question. The people I spoke to, people who provide a vital service and supports to a great many disabled persons, certainly asked a simple question: is a State-funded body prepared to implement a Labour Court recommendation in full or not? It is as simple as that. We need to see progress on this so that the staff of the national advocacy service can get the fair pay and conditions they deserve and, crucially, so that those for whom they provide services can get those services back.

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