Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way in which the proposed unpaid leave for public servants will operate within the health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45553/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if agreement has been reached with health unions on flexibility of working hours within the health services on an extension of the basic working day and on redeployment of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45547/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 88 together.

Discussions took place recently between officials of my Department and the HSE and unions representing health sector staff as part of the overall discussions with the Public Service Committee of the ICTU on adjustments to the public service pay bill. However, the Government decided on 4 December last that the overall proposals put forward by the Public Service Committee did not provide an acceptable alternative to pay cuts. According, the Government were unable to agree to the terms they had proposed and they are now proceeding to implement their plan to reduce the public service pay and pensions bill by €1.3bn next year compared with 2009.