John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad of the opportunity to say a few words on the motion before the House. We all agree that public servants are dedicated, committed and conscientious and we have all recognised the sacrifices they have made in recent years with huge cuts to their pay. Croke Park II was doomed to failure once the Government threatened workers with a 7% cut if they did not vote "Yes". One cannot threaten workers that one will impose something if they do not do what they are asked. We all recognise the anger of gardaí, nurses, ambulance drivers and the others who voted. They were very angry that they were threatened and told "Do this or else". We must all recognise that the trade union movement has been good for Ireland. National agreements were the key to industrial peace over the past 20 years. I remember entering the House in 1982 when strikes of all types were taking place. There was an oil strike, an ambulance workers' strike and every other kind of strike. The national agreements from the Haughey era onwards brought peace to the country. We did not have as many strikes as we might have.

Politicians must understand something. How can they ask workers to take a pay cut when they see Richie Boucher getting €31,000 on top of his existing €800,000? The ordinary worker is not a fool. He or she rails at that sort of thing. How can union leaders tell their members that they must take a severe pay cut in the national interest when most of those who are negotiating are on €120,000 or €130,000 a year? Front-line workers are not to blame for the current crisis and they should not be the victims of austerity. We all know and have met teachers, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and firemen who carry out their work with diligence and at great danger to themselves. The Government wants to cut their pay and expects them to work extra hours without any financial compensation. The Ministers in this Government obviously do not understand the individual circumstances of those who were being asked to take pay cuts. Those workers have mortgages, kids in college, illness issues, etc., yet the Government wants to impose a unilateral pay cut across the board. That is not acceptable. Reference has been made to the fact that income tax is not being increased, but workers' pay will be decimated by the household charge, water charges, the television licence increase, car tax increases, etc.

I feel sorry for the Minister, having heard Jack O'Connor say that an election is on the way to solve the problem, the horse having bolted on Croke Park II. As that man did not even know his members were going to vote against the deal, the Minister should not put much store in what he says. I agree with Deputy Dara Calleary that we should now leave Kieran Mulvey to do his job without interference from Ministers, the unions or the fat cats in IBEC. IBEC shouts from the rooftops every so often to lecture us on pay cuts for ordinary workers while the fat cats are well looked after on large salaries. I would certainly take what it says with a grain of salt.

I ask the Minister of State to ensure Mr. Mulvey is given all the arms of the State to bring about a solution, and I hope we will not see a vote in the House on unilateral pay cuts of 6% or 7%, as Ministers have threatened. I hope we will see proper negotiations and reach a conclusion to the satisfaction of all.

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