Deputy Ellis is substituting for Deputy Martin Brady and Deputy Gilmore is substituting for Deputy Lynch. I welcome the Deputies. Senator Paddy Burke is substituting for Senator Coghlan and Deputy Breen is being ably substituted by Deputy Enright.
Business of Joint Committee.
Would it be possible for me to sit in on the meeting?
The Deputy is welcome. I understand he is substituting for Deputy McHugh.
My first pleasant duty is to congratulate Deputy Enright on her recent marriage in a neighbouring constituency. It is lovely to see her here this morning. I understand she has an urgent matter to bring to the attention of the committee but I want to wish her health, happiness and good luck. She is an outstanding Member of Parliament. It is nice that she is present and I congratulate her on her marriage.
With members' permission, we will move to the item on the agenda dealing with Deputy Enright's matter. A letter from the Deputy has been received by the clerk and me regarding the non-payment of employees since 1 July at a nursing home in Rahan. In her letter, which has been circulated to members, the Deputy outlines the problem regarding redundancy. Inquiries have been made of the Department on this matter and no claims have been recorded. Do members have views on the correspondence?
By way of explanation, the reason no claims have been recorded is the problem with which staff are faced, namely, that in order to access the fund available to the Department — which is supposedly an emergency fund — they must obtain letters from——
Is it agreed that the committee should go into private session? Agreed.
The joint committee went into private session at 11.18 a.m. and resumed in public session at 11.30 a.m.