Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What the Government will do is respect the PSSA to which we asked public service unions to sign up, which they did, and to which the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, signed up. I understand the INMO is a member of ICTU and I understand all parties to the PSSA have signed up and have agreed there would be no cost-increasing claims for improvement in pay for the duration of the agreement. That is what the agreement which was signed up to by the unions says, namely, that there will be no increase in pay above and beyond what is spelled out in the agreement.

This is a new agreement and if we start unpicking it at such an early stage it does not say much for honouring agreements that have just been agreed. We asked the PSPC to do a body of work on an expert basis, to come together, analyse data, hear from all sides, receive submissions and make recommendations. It made recommendations which would have put more money in the pockets of many of our nurses and midwives and, on top of that, it recommended pay rises for new entrants, which is an issue which needs to be addressed. I respect the INMO ballot; it has made its decision in that regard. I would like there to be engagement with it in advance of 5 November to see if a way forward can be found which respects the PSSA.

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