Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the fact that four of the five Priority Questions today are on this issue indicates its importance, not just to the Opposition but to the Minister as well and, more importantly, to the public sector workers who will be affected by this. I appreciate the extra time being given because the questions are grouped.

I am sure the Minister is aware of the ballot last week by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. Of those who cast their vote, 94% rejected the proposals that are going to be brought forward by the Government. The executive council of the INMO confirmed it would consider industrial action at its next meeting. The organisation's president also gave a stark warning to the Minister and his Government by stating that they were "sleepwalking into a serious industrial dispute". The teachers' unions have also criticised the Minister's proposals for failing to deliver pay equality and, as a consequence, failing to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis of which Deputy Troy spoke.

The reality is there is not going to be pay equalisation until 2024, 2026 with the carryover cost, but 2024 as the Minister indicated in his reply. This is completely unacceptable to many public sector workers, as indicated by the INMO ballot. This was a political decision. There is nothing stopping the Minister from implementing pay equalisation over one, two, three or four years. He has chosen to stretch it out to 2024 for political reasons.

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