Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has finalised all negotiation with unions with regard to Croke Park 2, or if he intends re-engaging with those who removed themselves from the talks. [15439/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The negotiations which took place on proposals to extend the current Public Service Agreement concluded last month with a Labour Relations Commission draft Agreement as the outcome.

These proposals represent a compromise between the parties, which the Government believes will achieve its core objectives of:

- securing additional savings of €1 billion in the pay and pensions bill by 2016;

- delivering sustainable increases in productivity across the public service;

- securing further important workplace reform.

Those unions who remained in the process argued strongly for and secured changes to the initial Government’s proposals in relation to a number of measures, including, for example, the scale of reductions in overtime rates, Sunday and Saturday payments. Unfortunately, some unions chose to leave the negotiation process before its conclusion and, consequently, were unable to shape the outcome in the interests of their members.

Public service unions and associations are currently submitting the proposals to ballot in accordance with each union’s own rules. If the Agreement is ratified then management will act to implement the measures in respect of all public servants. However, if following ratification, unions continue to remain outside the process, they will have the benefits of the process removed from them and the people that they represent.