On 15 July I raised the public sector pay agreement with the Taoiseach in this House. He assured me talks would begin at pace in September. September is ending and there is no agreement. Tomorrow thousands of public servants commence industrial action with co-ordinated strikes planned for 14 and 21 October. Last week the Minister, Deputy Chambers, claimed his Department was ready to negotiate, yet unions say they have repeatedly sought meaningful engagement without success. I anticipate the Taoiseach will tell me negotiations cannot begin with preconditions but nobody is asking him to agree the outcome before negotiations begin; they are asking for a credible framework within which meaningful negotiations can take place. The expiry of the agreement was no surprise to anybody in this House, particularly the Government. Will the Taoiseach personally intervene today, establish that framework and prevent our schools, hospitals and public services from being brought to a standstill?

I regret there is a work-to-rule commencing tomorrow. I do not believe there is a need for a work-to-rule to agree on this. I have serious questions about the entire process in terms of the balloting and so on like that of members, if I am honest. The Government is very clear, as it has been in recent years since I became Taoiseach and before. Public service pay agreements have been agreed by successive governments, negotiations have always ensued and, rearticulating what I said earlier, the Government is open to concluding a public service pay agreement with the public service unions. We will be putting substantial funding aside to provide for that. The last agreement exceeded inflation, particularly for low-paid workers. We want to engage in negotiations. It is regrettable that in advance of the opening of negotiations, ballots are taking place.