Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said, we have a voluntary system of industrial relations in this country, and employers and unions agreed a pay deal last September. There is flexibility within that pay deal for those companies that wish to claim inability to pay. If companies that have profits and are in a position to pay decide to proceed with payment, they will be in compliance with the pay deal that was agreed between the employers and the unions and ratified by the employers' body and the union members on 17 November last. That is the position on the first point.

The second point obviously relates to developments since then. That particular company's approach is an indication of the sensitivity it wishes to show to other workers who are in a far more difficult situation. It has stated its intentions, at this stage, regarding any further amounts that are due under the deal. I hope that will confirm that the company is trying to add to public confidence. There is a requirement to show restraint, even in those companies that have an ability to pay the first instalment of the deal. Agreement was reached between management and unions, in line with the voluntary nature of this country's industrial relations system.

I would like to make the point that at the time, Fine Gael's spokesman on finance issued a statement to the effect that he welcomed the deal. I presume the representatives of unions and workers in firms that are in a position to pay, or have the ability to pay, will be knocking on doors to inquire whether the deal that has been struck will be honoured.

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