Shatter criticises refusal to publish Croke Park details

THE GOVERNMENT’S refusal to publish details of the action plans to implement the Croke Park agreement on public service pay and reform has been criticised by Fine Gael justice spokesman Alan Shatter.

In the Dáil yesterday, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told Mr Shatter that discussions were taking place with the unions on the action plans to be brought forward by each Government department.

“I do not anticipate that these documents will be made public given that we are in an ongoing negotiation process,” the Tánaiste said.

However, last night senior figures close to the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said unions had no problem with the plans being made available to TDs and Senators.

Highly placed union sources said there were no negotiations under way on the plans, which were the property of the Government departments and agencies.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Shatter said it was crucial that in the lead-in to the December budget all relevant information was made available to all members of the Dáil.

“There should be full transparency, and the public is entitled to know the difficult choices available to tackle our growing national debt.”

Mr Shatter said it was most disappointing that on the day after the Taoiseach’s letter to party leaders the Tánaiste should refuse to agree to the publication of the departmental action plans.