Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That reduction is something that will be negotiated with the representatives of the staff who work in the public services. When that process of negotiation is completed, their representatives - their unions - will put the outcome of the discussions to a ballot of their members, who will then decide democratically whether they want to accept it or not.

That is the right approach to take. It is one that respects the staff who work in the public services. It is the most sensible way of dealing with it. It is dealing with it by way of negotiation and discussion. The place for those negotiations and discussion to take place is at the negotiating table, not by megaphone. The place for it is not in here in this Chamber, but around the table with the representatives of those who work in the public services. Those discussions are underway and out of respect for those who work in the public services, everybody in this House-----

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