Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The taxpayer is represented by the Government, but also by the public sector unions. Some €2.5 billion has been removed from public sector pay and pensions in circumstances of industrial peace. I am not implying that the Deputy opposite is involved, but those Deputies who suggest something other than this approach should state what their approach is. Days and weeks have been lost in other European countries that have needed to undergo such a transformation, schools and hospitals have been closed and inevitable public conflict has followed some kind of confrontation. We are trying to operate by agreement. It is to the credit of the public sector unions and the leadership they have shown that we have got this far in terms of a peaceful industrial environment.

It is a question of the future sustainability of public sector pay and pensions. Our country will not have a sustainable financial base until we reduce expenditure. If public servants and the public sector are to have a sustainable future, we must address this issue in terms of the €1 billion in savings.

See this speech in context