Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The public service or Croke Park agreement negotiated by the previous Government is stated to be for the period from 2010 to 2014. The agreement requires staff co-operation with productivity, cost extraction and reform measures in the public service. The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the public service agreement on pay rates and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the necessary flexibilities by public servants. The agreement provides for an annual review process, while the implementation body is charged with making regular reports on the implementation of the transformation agenda across the public service.

No decision has been made by the Government regarding a successor agreement to the Croke Park agreement. The current agreement continues to facilitate, against a background of industrial peace and the maintenance of vital public services at a time of extreme demand for these services, a structured and sustainable reduction in the cost of the Exchequer pay bill through falling numbers and other measures. The implementation body has concluded that the agreement is delivering substantial savings and change, but it will continue to be measured against its ability to accelerate the pace of change across the public service and its potential for extracting further pay bill and non-pay savings. I strongly agree with that sentiment. The priority must be for all stakeholders to concentrate on maximising the contribution of the Croke Park agreement and a successor to the agreement, if any, to the transformation of the public service to enable it to make a continuing and sustainable contribution to our economic recovery.

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