Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Commissioner Olli Rehn came to Ireland to advise and, more important, to remind us of what is important. In terms of what is important, Commissioner Rehn mentioned the same three areas mentioned last week by the OECD, namely, education, reform and trade in terms of growth. Commissioner Rehn also complimented us on our educated workforce. While we might tire of hearing that we must be careful not to lose that educated workforce. What will the Government and Minister for Education and Skills do to maintain this educated workforce and the budget commitment in respect of education? Important advice given last week by the OECD is that education funding should not be cut, rather cuts should be made in the defence budget and the issue of why we gave money to the banks should be debated.

Commissioner Rehn also spoke about labour reform. In this context, every speaker in the House today has expressed concern in regard to the lack of implementation of the Croke Park agreement. Why has the Government not driven through the reform? The perception among the public in regard to the Croke Park agreement is that it is merely cover for no further cuts for public servants. No one believes that the Government is serious about reform.