I wish to raise the ongoing industrial action or work to rule by the public service unions and the impact it is having on many aspects of our economy, especially in Cashel town, where two wonderful special schools, Scoil Aonghusa and Scoil Chormaic, provide outstanding support to children and young people with additional and complex needs. The staff in these schools are dedicated and hard working and they do their utmost.

I fully support the right to industrial action and to try to be recognised, but I want the Tánaiste today to give a commitment that the Government will meaningfully engage with the unions and try to avert this because, as I said, these young people need a routine. It is so vital to them, and I think the Tánaiste himself knows that. Even the change of a bus route or bus time affects them. This would have an enormous effect on the daily lives of these young special children and their families. In the interest of humanity, I ask - there are many other sectors but in this area, in these wonderful schools in Cashel and around the country - that we try to avert any prolonged action.

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue in relation to Cashel. I do not doubt the importance of that service provided and the people who very much depend on it. Let me reiterate, and I say this to be helpful, that the Government wants the public sector unions to engage with our representatives in talks without precondition. We could not be clearer about that. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has confirmed that view to the public sector unions. Every dispute, every discussion, gets resolved in sitting around a table. There is no advantage, tactical or otherwise, for either side to delaying that engagement.

We need a new public sector pay agreement. The unions in this country have always been responsible, constructive partners in standing up for those they represent. We have a job to do as well. We will make an allocation for a new public sector pay deal, or an indicative one, in our budgetary figures next week. The sooner the talks can begin, the better.

It is important that both sides, including the Government, approach those talks with no preconditions. We are willing to engage without precondition. I would ask in the interest of everybody, including public sector workers, that unions would do the same.