On behalf of the Rural Independents, I want to condemn both sides in Israel - the horrific attack by Hamas and, indeed, the ongoing response of the Israelis - and the death of that young Irish citizen. It is horrific.

I want to ask the Tánaiste how come the Government had a budget this week and it did not even mention these workers who are going on strike next week. Forced to go on the picket line, they do not want to go on the picket line. They are the best carers out there looking after our elderly, vulnerable, sick children, wheelchair users and everybody else, and they are forced to go on the picket line in tears to get parity of esteem with their HSE colleagues, who get €4 an hour extra doing the same work in the same settings. This is shocking, and we had a budget that ignored them completely. This budget - I do not know what planet the Government is on - ignored the fact of these workers and the impending strike and it will force them out onto the picket line to get basic human rights - parity of esteem in pay. The Government did not treat them well in the budget - low-paid workers anyway.

I thank the Deputy. The time is up.

To leave them out completely and the strike pending beggars belief.

First, on the Deputy’s earlier comments, we want a de-escalation of all violence in the Middle East. We do not accept or approve of any breaches of international law in terms of the bombing of innocent Gazans and the killing of children and women as a result of the indiscriminate bombing that is currently going on.

In respect of the section 39 organisations, pay negotiations and discussions do not get mentioned in budget statements generally. There is a public service pay agreement due and that will have to be negotiated with the unions. Likewise, in terms of section 39 organisations, the Deputy will be aware that negotiations had taken place, an offer had been made and it was not deemed acceptable.

Parity.

That will continue. We want to get it resolved.