I also want to refer to Childminding Ireland. I attended the protest at lunchtime today and have to say I was shocked to hear about the treatment meted out to workers like Bernie Griffiths, Jacquie Donnelly, Fiona Turner and Anne McCourtney, who have given over 60 years of loyal service to a company that is funded by the State through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Despite this, when IMPACT wrote to the Minister-----

The Senator should not name people in the House who are not here to defend themselves. He should be careful not to do so.

I am here to support them.

Either way, they make take issue with it. I am just cautioning the Senator.

Thank you, a Chathaoirligh; I accept your point. We have heard much about new politics and have a new Minister in place. However, when the union wrote to her, she appeared to sit on her hands, saying it had nothing to do with her. Her Department funds the child care facility in question. It has made the people in question redundant and, at the same time, told them to reapply for their jobs, if they like to do so. Does the House see this as acceptable behaviour in the 21st century? None of us should and I believe none of us would. The issue is urgent. The people concerned are in their third week on strike and we need a response from the Minister. Will the Leader urgently ask her to address the issue?