Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, told the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on 4 October that the Government intends to comply with the terms of the Croke Park agreement on pay and reform of the public service? Will he confirm the assurances contained in the agreement that pay and pensions would not - I emphasise the words "would not" - be further cut and there would be no compulsory redundancies in the public service in return for flexibility in redeployment terms in the public service? Will he give a clear commitment that nothing in the forthcoming budget will be in breach of the Government's position on the Croke Park agreement?

On the ESRI recommendations vis-À-vis an across-the-board social charge, does the Taoiseach agree that this is a regressive proposal which will favour higher income earners at the expense of lower income earners? Will he state that it will not be contemplated by the Government?

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