Yesterday we raised the long-running concern that we have about section 39 workers and the need for the Government to intervene and ensure that thousands of workers secure pay justice. In response, the Taoiseach said that the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance, and wider Government, would continue to examine the situation. I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has since written to ICTU, declining an invitation to intervene in the dispute. The Tánaiste knows that these are the very same workers who made sure that essential services were maintained throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. I know that a number of unions involved now plan to ballot their members for industrial action. Fórsa's Catherine Keogh said yesterday that union members feel that the Department of Health, the HSE and Government have effectively turned their backs on them. She continued "They deserve a swift and decisive response that shows their work is valued". SIPTU is calling on the Government to back up its applause for essential front-line workers and to provide the necessary funding to make sure that all section 39 workers get the pay justice they deserve. Will the Tánaiste convert his applause into action for these workers?

As the Deputy knows, section 39 workers are a diverse group. They are not public servants and they are not Government employees but the work that they do is extraordinarily valuable. Some are employees of companies, some are employees of NGOs and some are employees of charities. These companies, NGOs and charities receive grant funding from the Government to fund partially or fully their operations but they are not employees of Government and they are not public servants, which is what makes this a complicated issue to deal with. Funding for section 39 bodies has been increased and will be increased again.