Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the Deputy's first question, the ten-year agreement framework within which we operate social partnership continues to apply. Like all social partnership agreements, this process takes account of the budgetary situation as it develops. It is on the basis of maintaining and providing for stability and a good public finance position that these arrangements are entered into. Those are what are being implemented.

I do not have the detail of each departmental office but I understand responses have now been received from all sectors - Departments and offices - and will be reviewed by the implementation body in the coming weeks. Therefore, the answer to the Deputy's question appears to be that all the responses are in.

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