Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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883. To ask the Minister for Health if he will deal with the following matter (details supplied) regarding the Haddington Road Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27795/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 – 2016 provides that public service pay and any related issues will not be revisited within the lifetime of the Agreement. However, when economic circumstances allow and the public finances are restored to a sustainable position, the pay measures that have applied to public servants will be reviewed, and in that regard, priority will be given to public servants with pay rates at €35,000 or less. I recognise that the savings sought from the health service pay and pensions bill are extremely difficult and challenging for health staff, as indeed they are for all public servants. They are however a necessary further contribution to the fiscal consolidation process required to restore the country's economic sovereignty and bring current expenditure deficit under control. If the proposals are accepted, it will be possible to achieve the required savings and major increases in public service productivity to secure the necessary reduction in the public service pay and pension bill. In addition, the essential elements and protections of the Public Service Agreement will remain in place, which will secure industrial peace in the public service at a critical time on our path to economic sovereignty.