Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I thank all Senators who contributed to what has been in the main a constructive debate. The Government and leaders of congress decided in March that, to boost our prospects of economic recovery and in the interests of those reliant on public services who would be affected by significant industrial action, an agreed way forward is best. The agreement creates the framework for the public service to change for the better in ways that public servants want.

I disagree with Senator Butler who stated he does not believe social partnership is applicable any more and agree with Senator Donohoe who placed great emphasis on the continued value of social cohesion. I am emphatically in the latter camp. I warmly welcome the Croke Park agreement which, of course, remains to be voted on. I agree with Senator Alex White that the trade unions and those voting on the agreement need space to make their decision. I would deprecate over-politicisation, in a partisan way, of the deal. At the same time, historically the labour movement has consisted of two wings, the trade unions and the Labour Party. I am a little surprised at the degree of reticence shown by the Labour Party, which is not just an Opposition party but a partner with the trade unions in the labour movement. I will confine myself to that particular point.

The agreement offers security in regard to pay levels for the public service and an agreed approach to reducing the effects of the financial emergency measures that had to be taken last year. Events elsewhere in Europe show how important it is that Ireland sticks to its objective of restoring the public finances to a sustainable position. There is an attempt - this was done again in this House this morning - to present the measures taken by Government as right wing measures. The socialist government in Spain had to take the same measures yesterday. The relatively new socialist government in Greece also had to take similar measures. I do not believe the actions governments are having to take, in regard to which Ireland has played a certain lead role, can be ideologically categorised.

Senator O'Toole spoke of the impact of the pay cuts on public servants who in good faith entered into commitments, as we all did, in respect of purchasing houses and so on. There is no doubt but that the pension levy and pay reductions have had a huge impact on public servants, delegations of whom we have all met. It is, perhaps, no consolation to them that other European countries are following the same path, with Spain and Portugal announcing pay reductions. The British Government this morning announced a 5% cut in pay for newly appointed ministers. The cuts imposed on the pay of all public servants was tough. However, the Croke Park agreement offers a route back with the commitments to apply savings achieved in an agreed manner in the 2011 pay review to commence reducing the effect of the pension levy and pay reductions. Acceptance of the agreement will be a huge gain not alone internally but from the point of view of confidence.

There were many references during the debate to the CPSU. Like others, I know Mr. Blair Horan quite well. I thought he gave a moderate interview on "Morning Ireland" this morning and made the reasonable point that while the CPSU has voted on the agreement other unions are also voting, following which all unions will have to sit down together to see how to move forward. The other night people, including a well known councillor in Dun Laoghaire, tried to gain access to Leinster House. The way one gains access to Leinster House, be it to the Seanad or Dáil, is to get oneself elected.