Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The remarks to which I referred were made at a conference entitled the Dublin economics workshop, which of course was held in County Kerry, which makes eminent sense. The Taoiseach's response, which must be of concern to people in the public service, indicates that the linkage to which I referred exists and will exist into the future. He mentioned the present agreed pensions arrangements but has not spelled out the consequences. What will be the position in the future? The Taoiseach distinguishes between public pensions and those in the private sector but if it were the other way around what would be the attitude of the Government? In the future, there will be a link between pension entitlements and pay awards under benchmarking. This will have consequences for those who continue in the public service and the Civil Service, even those officials in the Taoiseach's Department, a quarter of whom he informed us last week have looked for the exit door under decentralisation. Will the Taoiseach explain the net effect that was signalled by the Minister and other commentators?

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