Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

They were to make a list of what they would do in the event of the outbreak of war. In the Department of Finance, as Senator O'Toole should know, the number one item was to suspend the conciliation and arbitration scheme. That is part of the complexity of dealing with public sector pay. As Senator O'Toole, who has operated on behalf of teachers all his working life, would know, if some other group in the public sector got some small amount, his members would automatically say that they wanted the relativity with that group restored. That has been one of the great difficulties with public sector pay and the benchmarking body addressed it. For that alone it was worthwhile.

I understand what politicians and political parties have to say for electoral gain, whatever side of the House they are on.