Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like most people I welcome the recommendation of the Labour Court which averted the threatened strike action of the GRA and AGSI two weeks ago. That Labour Court recommendation, as we know, has been accepted by the Government and we agree it should have been accepted by the Government. It is now being voted upon by the representatives organisations and I agree with the Minister that they should be given time to deliver their verdicts on the proposed deal.

However, we should be aware that at the previous election the people voted in favour of improving services. That was the one message we got from the previous general election. This message was translated into a physical format in the agreement reached between my party and that of the Tánaiste in our confidence and supply agreement. It was recognised that people in the country wanted services improved, as opposed to taxes being cut.

I know many Members of the House share my concern about whether the Labour Court recommendation will result in a reduction in the services provided by the Department of Justice and Equality. When my colleague, Deputy Calleary, asked the Minister a question about the cost of the Labour Court recommendation a few days ago, she said that "depending on a number of variables, the estimated gross annual cost of implementing the Labour Court Recommendation could exceed €50m; however, this gross cost will be offset by statutory deductions for tax, PRSI, etc., which will reduce the net Exchequer cost." I want the Minister to give the House an assurance that the Labour Court recommendation will not have an impact on the services provided by the Department of Justice and Equality.

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