Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I might be able to give some comfort to the Senator and obviate the need to repeat ourselves on Report Stage. The amendment looked like a sensible proposal, but given the role and functions conferred on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the reform of public services generally and the allocation of human resources and finances in that context, the broader policy of the Minister on theses issues objectively must be given precedence over collective agreements. The Senator may be Minister at a future date or have control over public sector pay policy and there might be issues on which he needs to have that statutory right and authority. We cannot include in statute an impediment to the Government's right to govern.