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

I will provide a running total of the cost of the different demands and needs being articulated to me this afternoon. We are now at approximately €918 million. The one-off payment for the CE schemes would cost €318 million, with an additional one year cost of a minimum of €180 million; there is €300 million that I updated Deputy O'Brien on in respect of the nursing issue and a further €120 million of the cost of meeting the need in respect of professional development hours. Far from having a King Canute moment I am having a déjà vu moment where our economy is doing well in the face of many different risks and different social needs. Both Deputies who have spoken on this matter know that collective agreements matter in that they allow us to manage the value of the issue in respect of competing demands. They know that if I was to meet any of the needs the Deputy refers to it would trigger a whole other set of demands that the Exchequer cannot meet without compromising other commitments we have either to taxpayers or to citizens who depend on services. That is why I am adopting my stance on these matters. Far from trying to undermine the role of our public servants or that people who work in community employment organisations, I am simply looking to make sure we are in a position to be able to continue to meet affordable wage needs in the future.

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