Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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29. To ask the Minister for Health following the Government's support for the Labour Party motion on community and voluntary sector workers, if he will provide an update on his plans to ensure pay parity, given the vital role these workers play in healthcare in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18474/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.

A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022 during the Private Members Motion referenced by the Deputy.

While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.

On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. A follow up engagement is expected to take place later in May.

It must be noted that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.