Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

—and less so this time. It can be difficult to get a consensus. In addition, the sophistication of negotiators has improved substantially over the years. It took a long time to achieve consensus this time. The fact that it is an 18-month pay agreement is probably a weakness, but that is as much on which consensus could be achieved. The Government would have wished for a longer pay agreement and a lower rate, but, though people were trying to reach a consensus, we ended up with a three-year national social partnership and an 18-month pay agreement. As stated earlier, it follows on from a very successful formula which is already in place and the very words "Sustaining Progress" suggest that it is about continuing with the progress that has been made. It takes into account the more difficult national and global fiscal situation that now exists.

In terms of priorities and timeframes for delivery across all the areas, the pay agreement runs for 18 months and provides greater flexibility in an uncertain economic environment. There is greater acknowledgement by the parties to the agreement that, over the period of Sustaining Progress, there will be limited scope for future increases in public expenditure. Improvements in public services will be sought primarily through a greater focus on priorities and some reallocation of existing expenditures as well as through accelerated modernisation and change across all sectors of the public service.

Regarding some of the key features of the programme, there is considerable emphasis in the public expenditure area on an improved monitoring and evaluation system, on prioritisation, on assessment of outcomes and on the provision of value for money. Value for money is something to which we all have to aspire. There will be a major focus on some elements which feel they got the best deal to do the business and to give value for money.

Implementation of the agreement will be overseen by a high level steering group composed of representatives of each of the social partner pillars and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Finance. There will be a great deal of focus on this and rightly so. It is one thing to get the deal agreed, but it is then all about delivering. It is important to Government and the social partners that this is delivered upon.

Representatives of employers and union organisations are working with the Government to target domestic sources of inflationary pressure. There is general acceptance that this is a very real worry and something on which everyone has to work. The new affordable housing initiative will be introduced and it is both important and welcome. The Government agreed to an enhancement of the statutory redundancy terms and the fact that this is being implemented so soon is greatly appreciated by people who, as Deputy Higgins said, will find themselves in the unfortunate position of losing their jobs. There will be further redundancies, unfortunately, but redundancy terms have now been enhanced.