As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is aware, industrial action is taking place as we speak across local authorities, including Wexford. There is an indefinite ban on all engagements with non-statutory political representatives. In fact, a 24-hour email ban will begin tomorrow, Friday, 22 September, and a 48-hour telephone ban begins on Tuesday, 26 September, including all media platforms. I ask that the Minister mandates local government management, particularly the CEOs, to re-engage with Fórsa before this dispute escalates to a far more serious entrenched position.

The public and elected representatives totally rely on our public servants for their skills, services and assistance. Therefore, I ask the Minister again to immediately take action and demand that the LGMA engages fully to resolve these legitimate issues put forward by the local authority employees.

I am aware of and have been kept up to date by officials on this dispute and the action proposed to be taken by Fórsa members in local authorities. These are local authority staff whom we all value and there is no question about that. There is a mechanism to deal with disputes and issues such as this with the LGMA and the union representatives. We are on the cusp of national pay talks. In fact, we are in the middle of them. I would have thought that would be the forum in which to deal with the issue. I call on both sides to engage to resolve the issues, which are resolvable.