Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Others have raised concerns about the public unrest regarding public sector pay. This is a very critical time in the economy's recovery and we are in real danger of unwinding the solid progress that has been made. In addition, our economy is seriously exposed to Brexit and other outside influences that can affect the recovery currently under way. The public sector pay agreements were agreed by the majority of the public sector unions in the Lansdowne Road agreement. What they signed up to in terms of restoring incremental pay must be respected. I urge caution and restraint, and I ask all politicians, both independent and members of parties, to adopt a responsible approach to what is a very sensitive issue at present. I agree with other Members that we should invite the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the House for a debate not only on public sector pay, but also on the services that the public sector unions provide for our citizens. If we are upright and honest about this and if we are calling for pay increases, it behoves all of us as policy makers to show where savings can be made in services so pay can be restored to the levels that people are claiming. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House for such a debate. It is important that we identify the services we need and how we will fund them. It is also important that we understand the reality of the current economic circumstances and that financial resources are finite and must be distributed in a fair and equitable manner.

I also ask the Leader to establish when the boards of the various hospital groups will be appointed. Over three years ago the previous Government set out a vision for the reform of acute hospital services and the hospital groups were the main plank of that reform. The hospital boards must be appointed to have a proper governance structure with full accountability and autonomy. To date, I have found it difficult to establish when those boards will be appointed. The groups and the chief executive officers are in place, but the boards are still not in place. The structure will not be complete until they are appointed. Will the Leader establish the position in that regard for the House?