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

I take it that when the Minister commences discussions with the unions in the spring, it will not simply be a matter of dealing with pay levels and that he is open to negotiating in respect of the set of issues to which I refer. Two things must happen. First, there is a need for greater capacity within the sector. I do not know if the Minister would go further by acknowledging that the crude job of simply culling numbers in certain sections of the public sector had a very negative impact. Be that as it may, however, there is now a need for greater numbers. We also need an assurance that there will be appropriate terms and conditions for those who are to be recruited into the public service. I would like the Minister to indicate publicly now that he sees these as matters to be discussed with the unions when he enters negotiations with them in the spring.

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