Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In order to continue and maintain the recovery that is underway, we need to ensure that our national finances are sustainable. A crucial element of that is ensuring that we have responsible wages in place for those who work in our public services so that we can meet the wage needs that they have now and in the future. The unfunded wage increase of today is the wage cut of tomorrow. I acknowledge that we are moving into a different phase in our economy, but that means the need to manage wages, whether from the point of view of the competitiveness of our economy or the affordability of our national finances, is as strong as ever.

I welcome the acknowledgement Deputy Cullinane gave to the Lansdowne Road agreement. It is very valuable that he has done so and I appreciate him noting that in our first engagement here in the House. In regard to the role of the public service wage commission, I am required under the Lansdowne Road agreement to consult with all participants in that agreement before we set up any new process for how we look at matters. We aim to begin that consultation in the coming weeks.

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