Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister of State and make a few points on the Croke Park agreement. To begin, it is important to acknowledge where we have come from in the past number of years and the difficulties we have had to sustain. No Government would in normal trading conditions set out to introduce the kinds of measures required over the past number of years to try to deal with the worst economic crisis to hit the world economy, not least here in Ireland. Over the course of that period, measures had to be introduced which have unquestionably reached into every household in the country and many families have endured very painful sacrifices in the form of reductions in pay and other cutbacks across the spectrum. There was no option other than such action and those measures have been welcomed both nationally by objective commentators and internationally.

The negotiators of the Croke Park agreement reached some weeks ago deserve our praise for their commitment to finding a solution in very difficult circumstances. This kind of agreement is not one that in better times the trade unions or employers would set out to agree. It has been necessary and I praise the leadership shown by the trade union movement and employers alike, as well as the office of Mr. Kieran Mulvey and Mr. Kevin Foley in the Labour Relations Commission, for the efforts in securing the deal.

The Croke Park agreement aims to provide a comprehensive agenda for public service transformation and a framework for public service pay determination over the next five years, during which the Government is fully committed to restoring order to the public finances and reducing the deficit to less than 3% of GDP. As a Senator on the Government side, one message I would like to get across is that there are no tricks in this agreement. There is no hidden agenda. I can understand difficulties that individual workers and trade unionists have had in accepting the kind of sacrifices that have become absolutely necessary but they can have absolute trust in the intentions of the Government to carry out its end of the bargain.

I note the comments from the Civil Public and Services Union, CPSU, yesterday and the fact the union voted against the agreement. It is worth noting that only 75% of the union membership voted and only 67% of that number voted against the deal. This shows that the kind of leadership which so many other trade unions have been showing is not shared by the leadership of that union in explaining the agreement and assuring the membership of the credibility of its contents. The draft agreement is the subject of balloting and we have seen significant leadership from the majority of the trade union heads. As they contemplate the contents of the agreement in the coming weeks, SIPTU and the larger part of the trade union movement are advocating support for the deal.

The agreement includes specific commitments on changes in work practices in each sector to deliver the savings and efficiencies required as the number of public servants falls. The Government has moved to clarify that savings derived from the implementation of the agreement will be used in a manner to be agreed to commence the process of addressing the effect on pay rates of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (No. 1) 2009 and reducing the effect of the pension levy. The agreement provides for independent support to unions and management to cost and verify any savings arising from change. A body designed to drive transformation across sectors will be established to help resolve disagreements and to verify the savings from the sectoral agreements independently.

If the deal is ratified, the Government has committed to entering into the agreement with the full expectation of its terms being honoured. A significant deterioration of the economy is not envisaged, but it would not be prudent of any government during the current economic turbulence to make wholly unconditional commitments. Having said this, the Government is fully committed to upholding all aspects of agreements entered into given the economic circumstances of the day.

The trade unions have committed to flexible redeployment within the public service and, where necessary, to bodies within a geographical radius of approximately 50 km to facilitate Government decisions on rationalisation and restructuring. They have given specific commitments on changes in work practices in each sector to deliver the savings and efficiencies necessary as public servant numbers fall. They have committed to a more open recruitment of skilled individuals and significantly improved performance management across all areas, with promotion based on performance as the norm. They have committed to compliance with a fast-track and time-bound mechanism to resolve disputes arising out of the agreement and to the establishment of a body designed to drive transformation to help resolve disagreements and to verify independently the savings derived from the sectoral agreements. A commitment has also been given to industrial peace and to a null cost increase in claims for improvements in pay or conditions of employment during the life of the agreement.

The Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, will go through the more detailed parts of the agreement, but I recognise fully that the agreement envisages what is a complete change of culture for many trade union members and workers. This will be difficult, but I praise their vision and their commitment to playing their part in turning the country around. Doing that will not be easy, but we have every chance of continuing to turn the corner given the type of leadership they have shown in the negotiations on the agreement.

Some commentators have supported the agreement. Senator O'Toole wrote an article in recent weeks. Without giving undue praise, it is fair to say that he was a pioneer of partnership in 1987 and has been a champion of workers' rights for the past 30 years. I praise his leadership in the context of his comments on this agreement. Importantly, he wrote: "The Croke Park deal on pay and reform is grim but a yes vote will keep the unions in an influential position". He also wrote: "The agreement, bad as it is, does offer hope, opportunity and influence." This is positive language at a time when such is required.

In recent days, Stephen Collins of The Irish Times wrote: "The Greek tragedy is a stark example of what can happen to a country if government and society do not face up to ingrained structural problems." I am glad to say that the larger part of the trade union movement and workers' representatives have faced up to these problems. I am also pleased to say that, under the leadership of the Taoiseach and, in particular, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, the reforms introduced and structural changes proposed show we are facing up to problems and taking the necessary steps.

Last week, the European Commission praised the measures taken by Ireland in the past two and a half years and asked that we continue to show leadership in areas where Greece and others have failed heretofore. In the interests of all European citizens, we hope that Greece will be able to lift the ball and do what we have done so well. European Commissioner Olli Rehn stated that Ireland's bold and credible measures are paying off. Thankfully, this is also being ensured by the leadership shown by the greater part of the trade union movement.

On 11 May, The Times read:

In the great Greek drama, there are few heroes, but any prize should go to Dublin. The Republic of Ireland has done a lot to get out of its own troubles, which were similar to those of Greece - worse, in a way, given that it has already had to rescue its banks. But with impressive agility and calm, the centre-right coalition led by the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has managed big spending cuts.

This is due in no small way to the understanding nature and the realisation and acceptance of workers and every Irish person that, while we have needed to take difficult steps, they will pay off to the benefit of all.

While commending the agreement to the House and to all those contemplating their ballots in the coming weeks, I am concerned about the so-called work to rule still ongoing in the Passport Office, the Departments of Social Protection and Health and Children and the HSE. The legitimate and genuine concerns and representations of the people, as made through elected representatives, be they councillors, Senators or Deputies from all parties and none, are being actively put to the back of the queue. It is unacceptable that they are being ignored. What would James Connolly or Thomas Clarke think of someone who was prepared to take the money for a job but refused to do the work in line with his or her contract? This is not a work to rule. It is downright wrong and is not in the interests of the people. Will the Minister of State ensure some action is taken in this regard? It is not a question of us personally but of those we represent and the work that needs to be done on their behalf. We all have anecdotal evidence of passport requests made by people going on honeymoon or attending funerals not being handled. I know of a case in recent days in which a person's passport request was put to the back of the queue and another put to the front because the former came through an elected representative. This is wrong and we need to take the appropriate action.