Harney says pay deal best option

The majority of public servants, if they think carefully before voting on the new pay deal, will realise there is no alternative…

The majority of public servants, if they think carefully before voting on the new pay deal, will realise there is no alternative to the agreement, Minister for Health Mary Harney said today.

Speaking to reporters after attending the official opening the Mater Hospital's minor injury clinic for public patients in Smithfield, Dublin, she said she hoped that there would be big turnout for all union ballots on the deal.

Asked if she was concerned about the future of the agreement, given a number of union executives have already voted against it, she said: “I certainly hope that every single public servant will think carefully about the agreement that's been reached between their union representatives and the Government.”.

She said these are “very, very challenging times” in Ireland.

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“We've had to make major cut backs in public spending and in public sector pay. We already know that later this year we hope to see growth return to the Irish economy and that’s the greatest guarantee for more money for services in the future and greater prosperity and more employment.

“But between now and 2014, clearly the country is going to go through a very challenging and difficult period and I think public servants should think very carefully as they vote on this deal over the next few weeks and I certainly hope that they will be in a position to ratify the deal.

She said while a large number of people remain opposed to the deal, she believed the majority of public servants – “if they think carefully” - will realise that there is no alternative.

Asked about reports that if union members didn't accept the deal they would face pay cuts instead, Ms Harney said she didn't want to speak in any threatening fashion.

"I think we've reached agreement in good faith. The Government would like to see that agreement honoured and ratified by the members of the different unions but clearly it’s a matter for them. It is a democratic process".

She added: "I don't want to speculate on what might or mightn't happen.

The Government have entered the agreement in good faith and we would like to see that that agreement would be acceptable".

The union representing lower paid civil servants - the CPSU – recommended rejection of the pay agreement at its executive council meeting today.

Meanwhile the Mater's Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic, which was officially opened by Ms Harney today, has the capacity to significantly reduce patient waiting and visit times at the hospital's main emergency department.