Deal or no deal, the cuts will go ahead, insists Taoiseach
Thursday November 26 2009
THE Taoiseach indicated the Government won't be pushed into agreeing a deal by the threat of another public sector strike next week.
Mr Cowen said he was not in a position to stop a strike. Both Government and unions were acting in good faith in discussions and everyone would make a serious effort.
The Taoiseach said it was better to find an agreed basis to go forward rather than not getting a deal. He would prefer if a deal was done with the unions, but if not, the Government would go ahead with the cuts anyway.
Mr Cowen expressed disappointment at the strike action as discussions on public sector pay and pensions bill were continuing.
He was awaiting a full range of policy options from trade unions on the issue of the public sector pay and pension bill.
But he warned that getting savings without any commitment on reform, and to permanent structural change in the public service, meant the Government would have to come back to the issue again and again.
It was much better to get agreement on changes to public sector costs.
Financial realities were dictating that the Government and unions had to get on with the process but he said it was better to do this in a collaborative and agreed way than by other actions that went into the industrial relations process.
Mr Cowen also revealed the Government has saved around €300m from the moratorium on recruitment in the public sector.
- Patricia McDonagh and Fionnan Sheahan
Irish Independent
