Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Economic Management Council is obviously the most powerful Government sub-committee, comprising the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Does that sub-committee have a role in industrial relations policy? Was it the policy of the Economic Management Council that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform should threaten public sector workers with a 7% pay cut across the board if they rejected the Croke Park II proposals?

In view of the fact that in the last hour SIPTU workers have rejected the Croke Park II proposals by 54% to 46%, will the Economic Management Council now have a role? Will the Government and the council respect that vote? Will the Taoiseach declare that he will not, in any sense, attempt to victimise nurses, teachers and other public sector workers? It would be absolutely reprehensible if the Taoiseach were to take the line that was outlined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Does the Taoiseach agree that the rejection by public sector workers - which is now inevitable because it will be defeated tomorrow - is because Croke Park II was an attack on workers allowances, overtime entitlements and that this would decimate their income?

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