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

I accept fully that community and voluntary health and social care workers in section 39 organisations are the backbone of essential services. The State depends on them to deliver critical support to people across the country every day. I welcome the fact that talks reconvened through the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, yesterday for organisations funded under sections 39, 56, 10 and 40, with some progress having being made. As the Deputy referenced, these talks have been adjourned at the request of the WRC until tomorrow morning. A number of issues remain to be resolved, including the range of funding streams within the scope of any new agreement. We are anxious that there would be agreement and I hope the talks that will continue tomorrow can lead to a breakthrough on this issue.

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