Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Throughout the month of January, we sought to reach an agreement with the social partners on an approach to manage the challenges we now face. We did achieve agreement on the scale of the problem facing us and on the need to take urgent and radical action to restore stability to the public finances. We were criticised for engaging with the social partners. The Deputies opposite argued that it was a waste of time, that it was outsourcing decision-making and now the same Deputies want us to re-enter talks with the social partners. This is proof if ever it was needed that the Opposition is more interested in political mischief than the future of this economy.

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