Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Ireland in current circumstances can no longer afford the present pay bill for the non-commercial public sector, a sector which has grown by more than 100,000 people since 1997. There are only two choices: substantial redundancies or across the board net reductions in pay. In many other countries without a social partnership culture, when there are economic difficulties, public servants are simply let go. Twenty years ago, we adopted a fairly expensive voluntary redundancy scheme. Social partnership began as a response to times that were also very difficult. It served the country well for 22 years, both when restraint and co-operation in crisis management were needed, and through the better times. An unprecedented situation like the present, when not merely a wage increase deferral but net reductions in pay, however arrived at, are called for, was never envisaged. I fully understand the difficulty trade union members have in accepting that and I respect their protests. They have to do what they have to do, but so must the Government.

There is a widespread conception about the relationship between public representatives and their more organised constituents, which suggests that Deputies, Senators and councillors are political invertebrates, and that all that is needed to pull them into line is to suggest sufficiently strongly and preferably in numbers that a certain course of action or persistence in it will lead to votes being won or lost. Personally, I always find that one of the least persuasive arguments, not taking kindly to being either bribed or threatened. While most of us will seek re-election, what we do and intend to do while we are here is more important. Perhaps it is time to re-read Edmund Burke's letter to his constituents.

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