Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Yes. I support the work of the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform 100%. Having spoken to the Minister some weeks ago, I agreed it was important that I should meet the implementation body with him to express our confidence and appreciation of the efforts made by the implementation body and the constituent union members thereof in achieving significant change and success in respect of the first analysis of the Croke Park agreement.

I met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, in Government Buildings. When speaking to its representatives in Killarney yesterday, I reiterated that the Government is completely supportive of the implementation of the Croke Park agreement. We are keen to see the agreement implemented in full. As has been made clear by Minister after Minister, it is important that the process is accelerated to achieve the targets we need to achieve. Yesterday, I said to the ICTU members and to the congress that in so far as I am concerned as Taoiseach, where there is a visible commitment to making the changes necessary to implement the Croke Park agreement, they will have in me a person as Head of Government for which they will have parity of esteem and an open door in respect of any discussions, concerns or anxieties they may have. I put this to them openly.

This is a process whereby the implementation of the agreement is critical for the future well-being of the country. From this point of view, while social partnership does not exist as it did previously, there is a willingness and a commitment from Government to engage with the trade union sector and the public sector unions to discuss the further changes required in the Croke Park agreement. I assure them of the Government's commitment to respond in respect of the conditions that have been agreed and signed off.

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