Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I congratulate the Minister for Health and Children in bringing in the first set of real reforms to the public sector. I understand what Senator O'Toole is saying but I must say some of the unions are stretching the credibility of the Croke Park deal to a great extent. First, SIPTU's demonstration on Monday night last in Letterkenny to protect the local hospital does not argue that they are in the business of structural reform which they will be required to do under Croke Park.

As for the public sector unions which are putting question marks over the Minister's proposed reforms, let me give them a reality check. After the last budget, public sector workers on €35,000 a year saw their salaries reduced by 4.17%. By contrast the private sector workers in the same period on €35,000 a year saw their salaries reduced by 61.7% if they were made redundant. A public sector worker on €75,000 a year had his or her salary reduced by over 4%. Private sector workers, on the same salary of €75,000, thrown out of work would see their salary reduced by 78%, and they do not have pensions. When Senator Buttimer speaks about Members in this House fomenting trouble between the public and private sectors, the facts provide the trouble. It is like when one condemns the Provos in Northern Ireland one is not contributing to the peace process. The facts show that there are very fat public sector workers and very poor private sector workers without pensions, and that is the reality.