Public sector 'facing difficult couple of months'

The Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has challenged those who want the Croke Park Agreement scrapped to state what they want as an alternative.

It follows claims Fine Gael backbenchers have told the Taoiseach to ditch the agreement as it is not affordable.

Mr Howlin told the Dáil he is fully behind the deal so long as it keeps delivering savings in payroll costs and reform.

But Minister Howlin admits the deal will come under pressure in the weeks and months ahead.

The Minister had earlier said he has no intention of re-negoiating the Croke Park Agreement.

Mr Howlin said it is delivering savings and reforms and he is committed to it so long as that continues.

Mr Howlin said in the Dáil: "I have heard lots of people say the Croke Park Agreement is an impediment to progress, but I want to know what is Croke Park stopping... happening.

"Unless people just want a straight forward cut across the public service, let them spell that out if that is what they are saying."

Mr Howlin said the proof of the pudding wil be in the eating and the Government will have to see that all the measures in the agreement are implemented.

He said: "We are facing a very difficult couple of months, when the number of people I have talked about will leave, to test what level of flexibility we will get under Croke Park to ensure that frontline services are maintained without additional cost."