Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have only invited them in. Basically, I have done the analysis of what we need to do to fill the hole. Over a period of time, I certainly indicated that there was a gap to be filled and that I was looking at the public pay area as making a contribution to that, but I got formal Government approval on Tuesday to invite the public sector unions in to shape out an agenda of negotiations to get that quantum of money over three years. We will not get it all next year but by 2015 we will reduce in real terms the public pay bill by a further €1 billion. I am very glad the public sector committee of ICTU met yesterday and formally accepted my invitation. We will begin that process next week. I will keep this committee informed of progress.