Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach admits that he is pessimistic about the possibilities of concluding this. He said things were 90% complete, but that there had been no deliberations on pay and pensions. What are the sticking points as he currently sees them? What are the significant non-pay issues that are outstanding? Will we have a director for employment rights compliance, as has been mentioned in some newspapers? Does he agree with David Begg's comment that wages should be ahead of the cost of living? The Government has admitted that inflation will rise above 4% this year, meaning that a pay rise below 3% would result in anyone on the average industrial wage of €600 losing €6 per week and €15 to €20 in real wages per week over a three-year deal. Does that concern the Taoiseach? Does the Government accept that due to its inability to control prices over which it has some measure of control, inflation will rise above 4% this year? What is the Taoiseach's view on the impact of inflation on the talks?

Has anything been achieved at the talks that will prevent wildcat strikes? These can cause absolute chaos to travelling consumers, as it did last week during a two-day rail strike. Real investment has taken place by Irish Rail in the last few years.

What get-out clauses have been included in the talks to date? If the final deal reached in Dublin Castle is for in excess of three years, but were inflation to grow substantially due to the Government's inability to keep it down, what get-out clauses are there to rectify the situation? Wage increases are above the cost of living and the consumer price index is at its highest in three years at 3.8%.

See this speech in context