Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

We have bridged the gap. Many economists complained about the partnership process because it had conferred a salaries and wage benefit on those in public service employment of the order of 12% over comparable grades in the private sector. That has been pushed back, which is good both for competitiveness and equality. Public and private sector workers are now on a level playing pitch in salaries and wages. That is why the Croke Park deal undertakes not to cut public service wages further.