Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

Benchmarking is an integral part of the national public pay policy which is enshrined in the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement. This process was started by Fianna Fáil in the late 1980s and has underpinned phenomenal economic progress and growth. The mechanism has created industrial relations harmony and is continuing to progress that harmony throughout not just the public service but the private sector.

I welcome the publication of the Estimates on education and I look forward to a more detailed debate on the issue at a later date.