Nobody is looking to do that.

I agree with the previous two speakers in relation to speaking time, and it needs to be resolved as business needs to be done.

Last week, a deal was struck by the Department and the unions on a 9.25% pay increase for many healthcare workers under section 39 contracts. This is to be rolled out over a two-year period. I publicly welcomed this long-awaited move only to realise that the devil is in the detail for section 39 private nursing home staff, who are to be exempted from this pay increase. Private nursing homes are already being hammered by the State, receiving €380 less per patient every week in comparison with public hospitals. They also have to pay for any HIQA upgrades to their nursing homes when ordered to carry them out.

On top of that, does the State expect the residents or families of those living in nursing homes to make up the pay shortfall for these section 39 workers? This section 39 pay increase deal should be fair and across the board. I am calling on the Government to make time available to discuss this critical matter out of respect for every private nursing home staff member and patients and their families across our island and to reverse the very unfair section 39 deal that has been brokered.

It is 110 days since the general election. This Dáil has sat for 17 days, which is incredible. For 85% of the time since the general election, this Dáil has been off. This is a legislature that cannot legislate. This is a democratically elected parliament that cannot deliver legislation because there are no committees due to the dysfunction here. I wish to propose an amendment under Standing Order 33(3) to the Order of Business to the effect that the Dáil should an extra day this week and an extra day next week in order that we can set about doing the work that is necessary.