TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has categorically ruled out any renegotiation of the Croke Park agreement ahead of its conclusion at the end of next year.
In clear language designed to dispel any doubt over an early renegotiation, Mr Kenny said no unilateral action would be taken on the agreement.
“We have an agreement. The agreement is in place and will be honoured in full,” he said.
Mr Kenny was speaking at the opening of Fine Gael’s two-day parliamentary party meeting in Westport, Co Mayo.
His comments were seen as putting an end to recent uncertainty over the future status of the agreement – which protects pay and conditions for public sector workers in return for changes in work practices and redundancies.
Several senior Ministers have made conflicting statements over whether or not the agreement could remain unchanged until it concludes at the end of 2013.
Earlier yesterday Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte said he would support any moves in the coming weeks to discuss “new issues” under the deal.
“My own view is that if the Government were to decide to intrude new issues into the Croke Park discussions in the coming weeks I would support that,” he said.
“If you have agreement of the parties to sit down, in the national interest, and look at the overall economic situation and where we are now; and the fact that in order to be compliant with our targets – we have to bring in what will be a difficult budget in December – then if Government were to make that decision between now and then, I certainly would support that,” he said.
Mr Rabbitte stressed, however, that the Government was committed to implementing the agreement. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was adamant the agreement would be honoured. “The position of the Government is very clear – we have an agreement and we’re honouring that agreement.”
Elsewhere, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar suggested if there were to be a successor to the Croke Park agreement when it expires at the end of 2013, negotiations should begin as soon as possible. He indicated the current deal could not be renegotiated.
“There is a clause in there that allows us to abandon the agreement if there’s another major disturbance in the economy. That hasn’t happened so I don’t think we’re in a position to evoke that clause.”
Asked about the prospect of negotiation, Mr Kenny replied: “It’s an agreement that’s honour-bound and there has to be honour among parties to the agreement. We want to see it implemented in full as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, proposals by the HSE for staff to work an extra two hours per week under Croke Park were dealt a blow by the Labour Court yesterday.
The court said moves to standardise working hours between different parts of the public service should be addressed at national level and indicated that the issue might not be able to be dealt with until Croke Park had run its course.
The HSE had suggested that staff could work an additional two hours per week without pay for a two to three year period as part of cost-saving measures.
