Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator repeatedly fails to recognise that we have employed 3,800 more nurses and that pay restoration is continuing for public servants across the board. We are paying €1.5 billion per month in the form of public sector pay. That is €17 billion per year. If one was to accept Senator Gavan's argument and that of his party, we would be spending in excess of that. We cannot have a free-for-all. As a trade unionist, Senator Gavan knows full well that we have public sector pay deal and that, collectively and individually, we must respect, appreciate and value that deal.