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

I thank the Deputy for his comments, but he did not answer the question I put to him. It is an important question for people who are critical of the Government, including in this House, to tease out. Of course, they are entitled to be critical, but the question must be asked if they are in favour of gardaí having access to the Labour Court and if they are , do they believe an employer should not accept the Labour Court's recommendations? That is the position in which the Government found itself and it has created consequences for those who work in public services, as I have acknowledged to the Deputy and publicly. That is the reason I am engaging with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on what happens in the aftermath of the recommendations.

On the Deputy's particular question about a labour-employer forum, we actually had an initial meeting of such a body some weeks ago in the run-up to the budget. Perhaps it was not given the profile it merited. Such a mechanism lwill be a help in the future.

To respond to the Deputy's question on social partnership, at times it had a pretty bad track record. That is something of which my party was critical and I think at times our criticisms have been acknowledged as being correct. However, that we engage with all elements of society in a collective approach to public sector pay is a necessity in the context of how we deal with the issues raised by the Deputy, including Brexit.

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