Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I refer to the reason France, Germany and Italy have trouble in this area. It is not a coincidence that Ireland has the best strike record in Europe. In other words, there are fewer strikes than in any other European country. There was no strike in the public service over the past two years, which is the prize we aimed for in the benchmarking deal. It was a superb strategic and tactical decision.

The Government, business interests, the trade union movement and the community and voluntary pillar have achieved structures that could not be achieved elsewhere in Europe. I could list example after example. For example, the primary and post-primary curricula were changed in Ireland over the past ten years without opposition from the teacher unions. Every education Minister in Europe who sought similar changes could not achieve them.

I could list every Department with which the unions sat down. I refer to the recent problems in the health service regarding the establishment of the Health Service Executive. That was an extraordinarily difficult changeover to effect but it was negotiated. Governments in Europe are failing to do this. We have done it and we are entitled to a pay off. People who wish to spend time with their children should be paid. The Minister of State and I can argue about where the money should be paid but I cannot accept his logic about the difficulties created for parents because they cannot get child minding. His Government has refused to make child care places available. Senator White spoke passionately about this issue.