Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I met with the National Advocacy Service, NAS, outside the gates today. Its staff have resumed a strike. It is an independent service that deals with clients who were in institutions or inappropriate accommodation, who are very vulnerable people, and the NAS tries to advocate to ensure their human rights are respected. The staff have not had a pay rise in 14 years. They went to the Labour Court some time ago and sought conditions similar to those of others who operate in the same kind of areas.

They were awarded a favourable recommendation some time ago. This has not been respected. We cannot have a situation where we have an organisation in respect of which the industrial relations apparatus of the State is in abeyance. I seek an intervention or even a short debate on this tomorrow.

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