Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Morale levels are a function of how an organisation is operated and managed. In many organisations one finds very high morale in recessionary times. There are other organisations where it might not be so high. Morale is a function of management and staff working together to make sure morale is high.

There is important work to be done. There are difficulties and issues to be resolved in an industrial relations context. That does not mean people do not do an honest job for an honest day's pay. That is my experience of the vast majority of people I have dealt with, whether in the public or private sectors.

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