Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier, we value the contribution retained firefighters make. They provide an excellent service. We believe this dispute can be resolved, as all disputes are resolved. To answer the Deputy's question, we have a system by which we bargain public pay centrally with the Government. It is a good system and it has existed for a very long time. We have an agreement between the unions on the one hand and the Government on the other hand to give several pay increases across the course of this year to all public servants. We are bound by that agreement and we will honour it. Equally, we expect the union side to honour the agreements it makes. That includes all public servants. This matter can be resolved and within the context of the agreement the union side has made with us. It made the agreement and voted for it, but it has to be done by negotiation.

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