Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the latest date by which he expects the Croke Park talks to be concluded with the outcome approved by all sides; when implementation of the agreement will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In recent weeks, extremely difficult and complex discussions have taken place between public service management and public service staff representatives seeking agreement on a series of measures that will secure an additional €1 billion saving from the public service pay and pensions bill by 2015.

Following intensive engagement in recent days between the parties which was facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), the LRC has developed and recommended a set of proposals for consideration and agreement that seeks to secure the savings required by the Exchequer while ameliorating the impacts on public service staff to the greatest extent possible. Public servants will be able to consider the full set of proposals by the LRC. The public service staff representatives who remained in negotiations have indicated that these proposals will be subject to ballot by members over the coming weeks.

It is now a matter for public service staff representatives to submit the proposals to their executives in the first instance and then to ballot in accordance with each union’s own rules. Unions and their members must now be allowed the time and space to consider the proposals put before them.

Legislation will also be needed to underpin this agreement and this will also be progressed over the coming weeks.