Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. If the Croke Park deal is endorsed by the trade union membership, as I hope it will be, the Fine Gael Party, if elected to government, will commit to honouring the commitment not to cut public sector pay between now and 2014. We would also prioritise the earnings of lower paid public servants in the first instance. In addition, as I have stated publicly, my party will contest the next general election seeking a public mandate on a more ambitious reform agenda, including the implementation of our party programmes on new politics, fair care in the health area and the establishment of a new economic recovery authority as part of our jobs plan.

The Croke Park deal falls short of the scale of reform that is needed to transform our public services in order that they will become absolutely efficient, rewarding and professional. While the deal includes some welcome and long overdue reforms in the areas of redeployment and flexible hours, it leaves core structural problems relatively untouched. It is worth noting that failure to tackle the over-centralisation of power in unaccountable Departments and bureaucracies such as the HSE leaves front line staff demoralised and frustrated. The system strangles initiative and does not reward creativity. In short, while the agenda is important, it is limited to achieving a small reduction in the cost of doing things in the same way. We should aspire to having a public service in which people are enthusiastic and understand that the work they do makes a contribution to the welfare and benefit of the country, economy and society and their initiative, creativity, contribution and hard work are rewarded.

As the Taoiseach is aware, the current industrial action is causing difficulties for people who were not responsible for cuts in salaries. Arising from this action, I am not sure if the Health Service Executive knows how much of its budget has been spent. The backlog of 70,000 applications in the Passport Office has also caused difficulties. It would be helpful if the Taoiseach were to recognise that one of the most sensitive issues in respect of the Croke Park agreement is the provision that commitments entered into in may be withdrawn due to what are known as unforeseen circumstances. Will the Taoiseach clarify what this phrase means? For instance, if tax receipts for 2010 were to fall short of projections by up to €1 billion, would this constitute unforeseen circumstances?

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