Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the worst of times, the previous Administration had a good record on dealing with public servants and their representatives when money was very tight and this country was under the cosh of the troika. The maintaining of industrial peace during that period was in stark contrast to what happened in other programme countries. Right now, as our economy is improving, we can see a fall in unemployment, but we also see very grave concerns arising across the public services. Members of An Garda Síochána are outside this House at the moment. Nurses are on work to rule in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Teachers are planning industrial action and other elements of the public service are also indicating that they will want changes in the negotiated pay settlements.

Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road agreements will be implemented fully both in terms of the pay restoration but also in the timeframe set out in those agreements or is it his plan to accelerate those payments? Will he accelerate the rate of pay restoration in light of the economic improvements that the Government has constantly underlined? In particular, will he accelerate the restoration through reduced pension related deductions, PRD, to public sector pensions?

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