Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Does the Taoiseach agree with the argument in the Economic Outlook 2006, published by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, that profits have risen very rapidly and that the wage-profit share in the economy has been skewed away from labour to employers in a remarkable fashion? Does he accept that the statistics show that national agreements between Government, bosses and trade unions since 1987 have seen the proportion of national income that goes to working people reduced considerably, while the proportion going to speculators, big business and financial institutions has increased considerably? Wages have been held back while no ceiling has been placed on profiteering or speculation.

Does the Taoiseach agree that over a 27-month period, the wage increases envisioned in the deal will barely be ahead of inflation and could easily fall behind it? Does he agree that when it comes to critical areas of expenditure for workers, such as mortgage repayments and child care, inflation at its official rate does not reflect reality? Does he agree that what has been agreed is not an effective check on the race to the bottom and that no effective barrier has been placed in the way of employers——

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