Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

When the Taoiseach answered questions in the House on social partnership in May, he stated that it is clear there is a great deal of common ground between the Government and the social partners and that there is a strong case for the continuation of social partnership. That was the Taoiseach's view in May but it was certainly not his view last week, given the unilateral decision taken by the Government to collapse the pay talks. In many ways, that decision by the Taoiseach sounded the death knell of social partnership. Is it not the case that the Taoiseach was within touching distance of an historic agreement that would have provided for radical reform of the public service? We know from the various documents put into the public arena in recent days that radical reform, particularly in the areas of education and health, had been signed up to and that the Taoiseach has blown it for his own political reasons. Does he see any future for social partnership? Does he see any way back from the damage he caused last Friday? Is it not regrettable that he chose to put short term political expediency ahead of the national interest?

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