Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not mean to get in any way narky, but it gets under my skin when people criticise other people for applauding front-line workers. No political tradition owns front-line workers. They are our husbands, wives, mothers, brothers, sisters and fathers. We all know them and we are all immensely proud of them. We will applaud them and stand with them. We will do a lot more than applaud them, which I think is the Deputy's point. I regularly engage with unions on matters that come within my remit. I have excellent engagement with the INMO, including three meetings in the past ten days on a range of issues. I have also met SIPTU to discuss a number of matters. I am proud to engage with them. We need to continue to work with them and we could not have got through this without them.

I note that there is only one proposed programme for Government. It is open to anybody in this House who elects a Taoiseach to produce an alternative programme for Government and an alternative candidate for Taoiseach. That is how democracy works. I would love the read the Deputy's and see. He can produce an alternative programme for Government. As we know, there are no faits accomplisin the political world. However, I am pleased that the programme for Government contains a commitment to a public sector pay deal. For what it is worth, it is my clear view that all agreements reached by the State should be honoured by the State. That is a very important part of reaching an agreement - both sides have to honour their word.

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