Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The second point is that in their current form these proposals do not provide the basis for an agreement. Until they do, we do not have the basis for an agreement, but we want to continue with those discussions.

The third point is that the savings will be in 2010. They will be permanent on the basis that the Government is not in a position to continue with a public service pay bill of the quantum that currently exists given our current budgetary position.

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