David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have read all of the previous agreements, including the FEMPI Acts, cover to cover so I know exactly what was taken from workers. From 1 January 2011, in addition to all of the other FEMPI cuts, workers who came into the system suffered further cuts. There was some merging of bands in the Haddington Road agreement and there were PRD changes in the most recent agreement. I fully understand what was taken and given back and the workers to whom I referred are still not on the same pay scale. We are not operating a single-tier pay structure. Mr. Watt knows that it is an issue for some trade unions, as it is for that category of workers. We had a debate on FEMPI recently and some of those workers were in the Public Gallery.

It is an issue for them. It was an issue, unfortunately, for the different Departments that underpinned a lot of the threatened industrial action, and potentially still further industrial action. Yet, it was not dealt with. I find it incredible that it was not dealt with even as an equality issue. I would have thought the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform would have wanted to deal with that first, notwithstanding all the other balancing acts that Mr. Watt says must be done. I find it-----