Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a valid question. We will have to see how the engagement with the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform goes. It is primarily a matter for him, as is public sector pay policy. The Deputy is right; provision was made for changes to the GP contract. It was not revealed publicly for negotiating reasons, but there was space. There was no space for nurses, but we still managed to find resources for them. The practice varies. It is a matter for the Minister for Finance on which to make a call at budget time.