Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to resolve the work to rule by staff in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. [8910/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The current work to rule in the Department of Social and Family Affairs is part of a co-ordinated programme of industrial action undertaken by public service unions across the public sector. The industrial action is in response to the pay reductions imposed by the Government on public servants with effect from 1 January last as part of the Government's budgetary strategy to bring the public finances under control.

In order to address issues raised by the programme of industrial action in the public sector, my Department has established a co-ordination group of all public service sectors affected to monitor and review service delivery and other issues arising from the industrial action. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is represented in that group. I believe that any form of industrial action is regrettable. In that regard, the Government has indicated its wish to engage with the public service unions with a view to achieving the necessary transformation to the public service into the future.