Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I will absolutely know a lot when this process concludes. I have always been clear that there are two elements to this, namely, the providers and the employees. One cannot work without the other. They must work together in the best interests of the children we serve. The mechanism we have currently, as the Deputy has outlined, is the joint labour committee. We have all made our views clear as to how we would like to see that process work, while respecting the independence of the committee.

I will be in a better position to judge everything once all of this process is concluded. I want the best possible outcome. I have been clear in that regard. I hope that will be delivered. Our core aim is to ensure that we have viable costs for parents and a sufficiency of places and that staff who work in the sector are suitably recompensed.

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