Where are we going from here? There is no way at this stage the Government will be able to negotiate a radical package to reform the public sector. The curtailment of services and the reduction of budgets, be it in respect of health or education, are putting severe pressure on the various sectors and they are unable to cope. Staff morale is at an all-time low and we are facing a long period of uncertainty. Strikes are on the cards. Nobody wants to go down this road but it is not easy to see an alternative. The Government is only interested in the blame game. As Deputy O'Donnell said, we hope that, on Committee Stage, the Government will listen to the Opposition and put reform on the cards again to get the country back on its feet.

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