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

What the Deputy does not take account of is the fact that there have been significant increases in recruitment, including in frontline services since 2011. He referred to a recruitment crisis. I point to the fact that over €60,000 more public servants have been recruited.

In response to his concerns about salary levels and retention he does not take account of the fact that we are in the early part of a new three-year collective agreement. I remember when the Deputy challenged me in the House to say collective agreements would be undermined, that it would be very difficult to maintain them in the future. As of this week there is a collective agreement for three years that virtually all unions or representative bodies in this country are either in or associated with. That agreement is in place to deliver wage growth for our public servants. That is why the Public Service Pay Commission is specifically inquiring into nursing and will report in the summer.

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