Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There were a number of questions. As I said, a number of unions engaged in full measure in the Labour Relations Commission after the ballot. That was their choice. I could not force anybody to engage. We could have probably got to the same point had everybody engaged over time, but I was willing to give the space and the time to get the best deal possible. I do not wish to be involved in any of this. Nobody in the Government wishes to be involved in cutting anybody's wages. I wish I was in a position to give increases. However, we must address the deficit. We are borrowing €1 billion per month and in the horizon of the further adjustments we must make, public pay will have to play a proportionate part in that. That is what is on the table now.

On the question of the status of people who vote against it, those unions that engage and accept the Labour Relations Commission proposals will have those proposals implemented. That will be the end of it. Those who reject them will not have the comfort of an agreement and the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation will apply to them.

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