Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is nearly summertime. Lest anyone thinks I would not do so, I offer the Taoiseach my congratulations on becoming a grandfather. Deputy Rabbitte said he hoped the Taoiseach would take a few weeks off to mind his grandchildren. I do not know if the Taoiseach is considering doing so.

I am glad the national implementation body is meeting the nurses' unions and the personnel involved today. It is claimed the criteria for assessment of legitimate claims within the benchmarking process are not sufficiently broad or flexible. Assuming the national implementation body and everybody concerned can arrive at a conclusion in respect of the reduction in the hours of work with a commensurate change in practice, efficiency and productivity, does the Taoiseach envisage similar situations finding their way into the benchmarking forum so pay questions can be resolved within the social partnership framework?

Does the Taoiseach see the benchmarking process becoming more open and transparent? Last time, recommendations for pay increases were made but the method by which the recommendations were arrived at was not published and the relevant documents have been shredded.

Is the Taoiseach happy that no other group will break from the social partnership and benchmarking agreements, given the soundings being taken currently?

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