Eoghan Harris (Independent)

The Government's position in regard to the public sector is very like that of these people in Knock who gaze at the sun and expect to see things happen. The Government, like previous Governments, has been blinded and hypnotised by the public sector. What has happened in the past few days is that the backbenchers have begun to give this Government a reality check on what the mass of our people think about the public sector.

There have been many bromides. I have read through the debates of the past few days. Bromides and tributes were paid to the public sector unions as if they were looking after the people. The public sector unions are a vested interest like bankers and employers.

There should have been no talks about this crisis. The Government should have imposed a pay cut without consultation with the unions. The time for this kind of social partnership is over. The public sector unions have dragged this out for weeks in the teeth of public opinion and have come up with this unpaid leave nonsense.

It is disgusting that the Government bottled it in the past few days. I know that now we are being accused of misreading it or being told the leaks should not be trusted but the Government allowed the perception to go out over the past few days that this unpaid leave was a runner. It is not a runner. The public is ready for pay cuts in the public sector. Pay cuts are needed in the public sector. Get on with it.