Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister talked about affordability. I am taking about people who are members of unions who work in hospitals, schools, ambulance services and other public services. The issue of affordability for them relates to how they can continue to pay their way in society. Many of them have suffered huge cuts to their wages and household members have lost jobs. In spite of that they are still paying the same mortgage they were paying eight years ago. Rents are increasing, as are transport costs. It is becoming very difficult for people to live and some even face evictions from their homes. How can one ask those workers to accept the argument on affordability when they see bank CEOs getting increases and Deputies getting a €5,000 increase in their wages? There is no fairness in that and those workers will not accept it. SIPTU has spoken of its plans to ballot 60,000 public sector members in the new year on the situation. The Government will have to take the bull by the horns and enter negotiations in order to move things on.

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