Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I readily acknowledge it. If there was any smugness about my statement it certainly was not intended. I was anxious that things would go smoothly during that period, and I pay public tribute to those who ensured it did, that is, local managers across every sector and local workers who increased productivity and flexibility to ensure the impact on front line services was minimised. Of course there were pressure points, but they were addressed locally, and I commend people on doing so.

We are in the process of downsizing the public service, of doing more with less. We have had enormous gains in flexibility. The Deputy might join with me in congratulating those who have embraced the Croke Park process and who have proven that we can achieve an awful lot more with co-operation than with coercion. I am proud of the increases in flexibility that have been achieved across virtually every sector of the public service through the Croke Park agreement.

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