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

They have been acknowledged within the Public Service Pay Commission. That is why we made specific proposals that we are willing to honour.

Deputy Rabbitte asked if we were willing to enter into discussions and negotiations. We are, but we have to be conscious that we have an agreement in place for 291,000 other public servants whom I will address in my concluding comments.

In respect of Deputy McGuinness's comments, through our participation in the Public Service Pay Commission process and through putting a collective wage agreement in place, we have looked to respond to issues that are being raised by nurses and their representative associations as we have looked to respond to issues and points raised by other groups. In respect of Deputy Cowen's comments, there is a clause there but that is the context for the Public Service Pay Commission report that we said we will honour. Did I miss a question from Deputy Breathnach?

See this speech in context