Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not accept the Deputy's comment that this is crudely cutting public service jobs. The Croke Park agreement was signed off between the Government, the public sector and the trade unions. As I said to Congress, many public sector workers understand better than the Deputy or I the arcane structures they were happy to put up with and the manner in which they are constrained from using their initiative and creativity to play their part.

The Deputy is aware of the numbers to be down-sized in the programme for Government over the lifetime of the Government. He is also aware of the numbers who have accepted voluntary redundancy to date. It is not a case of fooling anybody. We live in a very real world and, as I said to Deputy Adams, if the situation is not dealt with it will only get worse. Ordinary workers tell me the Government's job is to sort this out in everybody's interests. The programme for Government is quite clear in being committed to the sale of non-strategic State assets to realise up to €2 billion over the lifetime of the Government, and then to be sold at an appropriate time and at appropriate rates. The Government will make its own decision on that matter in due course.

I also pointed out to the Congress of Trade Unions that there are serious opportunities to reform the way in which things are done. The Croke Park agreement contains many of those elements. As I told congress yesterday, in so far as the Government is concerned, we will work with the implementation body and the trade unions to see that the achievements signed on for become a reality.

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