Mr. P. J. Fitzpatrick:

While I will leave the latter point to the employers and trade unions, from where I sit the level of engagement and co-operation by the trade unions and the management is excellent. I would be misleading the committee were I to state otherwise. We have four excellent people from the trade union side on the body who really take the agreement very seriously. They resolve the issues that arise on their side. My secretary, who is with me, will confirm that, as chair, I have encountered no difficulty with either side in terms of their desire or ambition. It really has been exemplary and I have dealt with unions for more years than I care to remember. However, another important point to remember is that by and large, trade unions do not go out to cause trouble. Very often they get blamed for something they have never been asked to do. One must be careful in this regard. In my experience, and I dealt with unions in a number of different positions, when they understand what is sought and the reason for it, they are highly practical and this has been my experience in respect of the Croke Park agreement. In addition, members will have heard some of the people on the body speak before Oireachtas committees and in the media.

They are under no illusions. They know the scale of the problems confronting the State. They are upfront about that.