I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am sure the Taoiseach is acutely aware, and I suspect the Labour Party is even more acutely aware, that tens of thousands of workers and other citizens will be taking to the streets this weekend to oppose the crippling debt that has been imposed on their shoulders-----

They will shortly be followed by the Labour Party.

-----the austerity the Government is meting out to them and to vent their fury at the broken promises of the Government and of the Labour Party in particular that it would all be different. I am sure the Taoiseach also is aware of the anger that now is building up among public sector front-line workers over the Government's plans to savage them even further in a so-called extension of the Croke Park deal. My question to the Taoiseach is to ask whether these circumstances and pressures explain the rather odd goings-on within the Government over the last few days. I refer to the way in which the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to Latin America and told European Union officials the Government is in jeopardy unless it gets a deal on the promissory notes issue and the way in which the Minister of State, Deputy White, stated on national television that there may be no Croke Park deal unless the Government gets a deal. Is this something of an elaborate charade on the part of the Government to create a bit of drama about whether we get a deal on the promissory notes issue to sweeten the bitter pill of the attacks the Government is planning on workers over the next number of months? Was the game not given away on this little charade by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, when he stated that regardless of whether we get a deal, it will make no difference to the level of cuts or austerity that will be imposed in future budgets? Is it not the truth that the Government - and the Labour Party in particular - are treating Members to an elaborate charade to deflect attention away from the cuts the Government now seeks to impose yet again on public sector workers-----

Can we have your question? Thank you.

-----by involving people in this drama of whether Ireland will get a deal on a promissory note when, as the Minister, Deputy Varadkar has indicated, deal or no deal, it makes no difference? Is it not the truth that the Government is not looking for a write-down of the debt, has agreed in principle to pay every cent and that whatever deal it gets will make no difference whatsoever to those who are being hammered and who the Government intends to hammer further with cuts and austerity?

I am not sure what the Deputy will do when a deal is achieved. He gets his weekly fix and his weekly rant.

Will you go away out of that?

Does this mean a deal has been done? Will the Taoiseach provide details to the House?

It is a charade.

In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, it is important that we achieve agreement and a conclusion on a deal in respect of the promissory notes. I have answered that question in this Chamber 20 times. The Government expects that to be achieved before the end of March, which is the next payment date.

The Taoiseach will put it on his grandchildren and not just on his children.

That is an important element of easing Ireland's exit from the programme in which the country finds itself because of the situation that applied a number of years ago. It is equally important to understand that the public finances must be rectified. This is the reason the Government mandated the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to talk to the trade unions about achieving further savings of €1 billion by 2015, including €300 million in the course of this year. Deputy Boyd Barrett is aware that the public service pay and pension bill represents 35% of expenditure, which is an important element of rectifying Ireland's public finances over the period ahead. It is equally important to follow through on the discussions taking place at the ECOFIN group and the Eurogroup with regard to the European Stability Mechanism, ESM, and the consequences of the decision arising from the European Council's decision to break the link between sovereign and bank debt.

These are three important elements of what it is the Government is about in this regard. I remind the Deputy that the management - on behalf of the Government - and the trade unions entered into these talks freely. That is an important consideration in this regard and I am glad to note the comments from the representatives of ICTU about the position that now applies. While these talks are challenging, complex and difficult, Deputy Boyd Barrett should note that decisions must be made because the position will not be rectified by itself.

As for the Deputy's comments about the consequences of a deal on the promissory note having an impact on our public finances, as I have stated, that deal will ease the exit from the programme in which Ireland is engaged, because the interest rates applying would be lower and there would be access to finance for banks to lend and provide credit for business and therefore stimulate investment for employment and the creation of jobs.

It is not a case of an elaborate charade but rather straight negotiation with a number of different groupings, including the trade unions, the European Central Bank and the ECOFIN group.

The Deputy is aware that the non-core pay bill, including overtime, allowances and premium pay, came to approximately €1.8 billion last year, with another €200 million in increments. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and his team are negotiating directly with trade unions on the issue. The Government has set out its stall and we want to achieve €1 billion in extra savings by 2015. These choices are not easy but the problem will not rectify itself, which is why negotiations are taking place. This is not an elaborate charade but it is in the interests of the country and sorting out the problem of legacy issues.

The process is certainly not transparent.

If it is not an elaborate charade, will the Taoiseach confirm for the public that the deal being sought will still involve this State committing to paying every cent plus interest of the cost to bail out Anglo Irish Bank? Is that the deal? Is it only a question of spreading that payment over a longer period and paying more interest over the period? It suits the Government, and the Labour Party in particular, to "big up" the discussions prior to doing some kind of sham deal that will make no difference in order to draw us into a drama of asking whether there is a deal. If this is not a charade-----

Cheer up.

-----will the Taoiseach comment on the Tánaiste's reported comments in Chile to the effect that the Government would be "in jeopardy" if it did not get a deal? Is that true? Is the coalition threatened with falling apart if there is no deal? The Deputies look very comfortable beside each other now and it does not look like the Government is in jeopardy.

That clouds the issue.

Is this a way of softening public sector workers for the real agenda of the Government and the troika, which is to shove even more austerity down the throats of front-line public sector workers and other citizens in this country at the demand of the troika? If a meaningless deal can be presented as a way of sweetening the bitter pill, the Government will be able to spin its way out of the real agenda.

The Deputy would love to see that.

I am very sorry to disappoint the Deputy again. The only coalition that has been falling apart has been the Deputy's own coalition. He is well used to splits, dissenters and voices from outside.

The Taoiseach should look behind him. Where has the Labour Party gone?

The Technical Group is solid.

He is well able to comment on that.

Where are they all gone? Féach anseo.

I assure Deputy Boyd Barrett that the Government is rock solid and has a very big programme for Government which will take five years to implement. It will run its full term in the interests of the country and in running the country we will not renege on our sovereign commitments, which were entered into by the previous Administration. We want to re-engineer and restructure the promissory notes and put the process much further out at a much lower interest rate.

The Government is not in jeopardy. My hearing might be fading slightly and I cannot go as far as Chile but the Tánaiste, as leader of the Labour Party, and I, as leader of Fine Gael, are absolutely committed to running a full term of this Administration and implementing our programme for Government in the interest of the county. If that disappoints the Deputy and he wants the people on the street every week, he can go on his road. We will go Ireland's way, which is-----

Anglo's way.

-----to deal with our problems and sort out our public finances. Services and exports have grown at the greatest rate in the past five years according to figures announced yesterday. There are serious challenges ahead and we are not afraid to make these choices, as they are in the interest of our country, our people and our economic prospects for the future. The problem will not go away and much as the Deputy may wish to be on the streets every week - it is his right if he so wishes - the Government has a serious challenge both at home and with our European colleagues.

Being on the streets would be more effective.

The Deputy should look around himself when he is talking about things falling apart.

The Deputy and Deputy Joe Higgins will be banging some drum.