Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

While it is clear there is a degree of dissatisfaction with the Croke Park agreement, it is important to emphasise its positive aspects. For example, it means there is industrial peace in the country and no Member seeks to have public sector workers taking to the streets. It also must be emphasised, however, that managers and public sector workers in general must buy into the Croke Park agreement in a more urgent way to ensure the benefits of the agreement are seen. The problem is that neither Members nor the public at large can discern the benefits of the Croke Park agreement in an expeditious manner. I call on managers and workers generally in the public sector to buy into it. In a manner similar to the decrease in VAT that was introduced for tourism products and other related products, it will be necessary to bring it back to the table if it is not working. Ultimately, the public sector must have an idea of what the private sector goes through. It is accepted in the private sector at present that there are no pay increases.

The difficulty I have in this regard concerns the increments. I note increments worth €250 million are being paid at a time when the Government is obliged to make some seriously difficult decisions. It strikes me that such increments certainly should be examined and this issue may be slightly separate from the Croke Park agreement itself. I call on the Deputy Leader to suggest that a constructive debate in this regard could be held. Perhaps a consultative debate, similar to that held in this Chamber with the older people, could be held with leaders from the public sector to ask them what they are doing to introduce the reforms suggested under the Croke Park agreement, as well as making constructive suggestions. If this agreement is not working, we must return to the drawing board. Consequently, I seek such a debate.