Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, the Chairman is correct that it is not taken into account in the stability programme update, because the update is prepared only on the basis of decisions that have been made. The forthcoming negotiations on public sector pay have not even properly begun, so it would be very premature and probably inappropriate for me to try to prejudge their outcome. Given a decision has not been made in regard to the nature of a future wage agreement, we have not included it in our forecasts.