Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of my colleagues in Fianna Fáil, I extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the dreadful terrorist attack in Boston. I also extend our sympathy to those who were injured. We all roundly condemn the disgusting attack on those participating in the Boston marathon and spectators of the event. We hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice. I formally extend our condolences to the city of Boston and the state of Massachusetts following this terrible event.

On the basis that the Croke Park II agreement has failed, does the Government intend to proceed, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has threatened, with an arbitrary 7% pay cut for public and civil servants? What is the current position on the Croke Park II agreement? Does the Leader agree that the Minister's handling of the negotiations was nothing short of disastrous? The threatening manner in which he approached workers in the public sector was badly thought out and he got his answer from the unions. There will be an essay competition in the Seanad next Tuesday, which is fine. However, I would like ample time to be set aside next week for a discussion on where we go following the failure of the Croke Park II agreement. That debate must happen. The way the Minister and the Government handled the negotiations was nothing short of disastrous. The Government does not have a plan and perhaps my party can assist in compiling one. That is why I ask for ample time to be set aside next week to discuss other options and alternatives. Does the Government intend to proceed, as the Minister threatened to do, with a 7% pay cut for public sector and Civil Service workers?

I ask the Leader to use his good offices to raise a matter with the Minister for Health. I refer to the fact that the Minister and the HSE have breached Labour Court recommendations on home helps and gratuity payments for persons who worked in the home help sector between 2000 and 2008. As the Leader will know, most of those who work in the sector are with voluntary agencies that are majority funded by the HSE. They are low paid workers and the average payment due to them ranges between €12,000 and €15,000. I wrote to the Minister and his Department and they acknowledged that Labour Court Recommendation 19550 stated the workers were entitled to gratuity payments of 4.5 weeks pay per year of service. Furthermore, they explained that they would not pay it. That decision affects thousands of workers across the State who low paid and provide a front-line health service. The State has chosen to hold back the money due to them. Even though they made their contributions, the State is unwilling to pay out. I intend to raise the matter next week on the Adjournment. In the meantime I ask the Leader to use his good offices to advocate on behalf of thousands of workers to whom the State owes money. Will he ask the Minister why he has set aside a clear Labour Court recommendation in that regard?