Joe O'Toole (Independent)

We should sit down and work our way through it. Cuts must be made. However, we should listen to the trade union movement, ordinary people, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and others who state we cannot look to the social welfare budget.

Those of us in the public sector will have to take more pain than others. However, the process must also be seen to be fair. If we can enter a social contract with the people to deal with some of the issues before us and make them a certain promise, given them confidence and a commitment that there is a future for them, it will allay their fears, relax them and get us back into the economy again. This can only be done if the Taoiseach and the Government talk to the social partners, show them in black and white where we are and say where everyone will pitch in to ensure it is fair. At that point everyone must play his or her part and take the pain. Those of us in the public sector will probably have to take more of it than the rest, for obvious reasons. If that is the way it will be, then as long as everyone understands it, that is the way in which it will work. Until trade union leaders can offer their members something as a way out of the current mess, some future or hope, they will vote for strike action, simply to protect what they have. There is nothing else they can do. They are kicking out against everything. We have an important duty and responsibility to ensure this does not happen.