Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

The foundations of the successes of this State since 1987 have been based on social partnership and pay agreements such as the recently concluded one. As the Taoiseach said the other day, Deputy Bruton in the Lower House criticised him and the Government for not concluding the social partnership talks quickly enough. He welcomed it when they were concluded and now he wants them reversed. Fine Gael has to make up its mind.

There will be no pay increases in the public service until next August. It is the Government's intention to ensure those increases are paid. The agreement stands as announced in social partnership. That is how we have had successes in the past and how we will plan for the future. If there are any changes to that——-