Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I ask the Taoiseach about the timetable for the proposed national pay talks. What is the Government's reaction to the recent benchmarking report, which delivered in some cases but did not deliver in a significant number of cases? Does the Taoiseach believe it creates a great difficulty for him and his Government as members accepted the recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector?

These recommendations awarded a range of between €36,000 and €38,000 in salary increases for Ministers. At the same time, frontline nurses who were encouraged to put their claim before the benchmarking body prior to the general election found the benchmarking report did not deliver bar in a number of nursing cases. This will make the pay talks extremely difficult given the downturn in the economy, the increase in the cost of living, rising unemployment and leaking confidence in Irish investment.

What is the Government's plan to arrest that lack of confidence and how is it proposed to enter the next round of pay talks?

See this speech in context