Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle: Government can do the right thing and avert strike

Pringle: Government can do the right thing and avert strike

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said Government can do the right thing and avert a strike this week by health and community workers.

Addressing the Dáil on Thursday, Deputy Pringle said: “As we all know, sadly we are facing into a strike by organisations that do not want to put the people they assist at risk, who provide vital services for many of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“They have been forced into this position by a government that refuses to recognise the value of the services that they provide. And I have to ask why is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DEPER) not here, ministers. No fault to yourselves, but you cannot give pay restoration on your own. It is only DEPER, Minister Donohoe, who can sign off on this, and it shows what DEPER think that he wouldn’t even bother to be here for this debate this evening.

“I am talking about organisations like the Irish Wheelchair Association, who I met with last Monday in Donegal to hear about the impact that a strike will have. There were many service users there who spoke so highly of the support they get and were 100% behind the staff in the strike action.

“To be there and listen to the respect that vulnerable service users have for the staff of the Irish Wheelchair Association was humbling and showed the impact that a strike like this will have on them, but their support was total,” he said.

The deputy was speaking during statements on Sustainability of Services Provided by Section 39 and Section 56 Organisations on Behalf of the HSE and Tusla.

Deputy Pringle said: “These agencies are state-funded to provide services that the State has declined or failed to provide. Yet the State has cut the funding to them and they have not had pay restoration since the crash.

“That is over 12 years ago now.

“These workers are on lesser terms and conditions than their HSE counterparts and the pay differential according to some organisations is up to 20% at this stage. That is not to mention that they have no pension entitlements either.

“This has led to a turnover in staff of around 30% per year, so every three years that means that there is basically a completely new workforce in place, and the loss of knowledge is shocking as well.

“How can any organisation work like that?” he said.

The deputy said: “It is amazing that in 2023 we are still talking about the effects of the bailout and the impact it has had on every part of our society.

“Carers allowance hasn’t increased since 2008 and they were only looking for restoration this week in the budget. Criminal barristers only received part restoration in this budget as well from cuts before the bailout. The pay issue of the Sections 39, 56 and 10 organisations are going on strike goes back to the bailout. Housing was attacked by the Troika and we are still living through that now.

“Thousands of children are homeless directly because of the bailout and there is no sign of even an attempt to resolve that,” he said.

Deputy Pringle concluded: “DEPER can do the right thing and resolve this strike now before it happens and I do not think that is too much to ask, and they should be here, listening to the views of the members of this House as well.”