Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I have heard trade union representatives suggest that. The additional cost to this country of extending to 2017 would be €80 billion. This is money we would find it difficult to receive and we would have to pay it back at a certain interest rate. There is a commitment to frontloading and to €15 billion. These are benchmarks we need to maintain. A discussion on the Croke Park agreement needs to happen soon. In line with other Senators on the Order of Business on previous days, our particular commitment to that debate is regardless of what is implemented and reviewed in the Croke Park agreement. There is a need for a signal from those of us involved in public life on budget day itself that whatever cuts and reduced costs are being asked from members of our society are particularly reflected here and to a greater extent. If that does not happen I fear for any budget package that will be presented on 7 December.