Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Taoiseach a series of questions. He did not answer any of them, with the exception of one. He is making it clear that Croke Park II is still on the table, and I can only take from his answers that he has asked the LRC to engage with unions and workers on that basis. Obviously, the Taoiseach hopes there can be some face-saving or tweaking of this agreement. I would not share that view. We should remember that when this deal was produced, the Government agreed, alongside the trade unions, that a process of ratification would be entered into. He voluntarily agreed to the notion that workers should be balloted on this agreement. The workers have rejected the agreement by a decisive majority.

When does "No" mean "No"? Why can the Taoiseach not accept that democratic verdict? He said he has to save €300 million. So be it, but there are other ways in which he can raise €300 million. It does not have to be at the expense of front-line workers. It does not have to be a result of hammering the public services.

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