Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach has just taken the opportunity to put on the record of the House a statement in respect of the talks that are under way between officials of the Department of Finance and the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Will the Taoiseach clarify the Government's objective with regard to the talks? When I questioned the Taoiseach earlier about the report of an bord snip nua, he responded that it would inform Government decisions in respect of the Estimates and the budget. He placed emphasis on the Government making those decisions and its prerogative in that area. Does the Government intend to conclude an agreement with the trade unions in respect of pay and adjustments in the public finances in advance of the budget? With regard to the sectoral discussions to which the Taoiseach referred, are the recommendations in the report of an bord snip nua on the table?

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