Howlin: Croke Park 2 was 'fair and balanced'

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has re-stated the Government's commitment to making savings of €300m in the public sector wage bill this year.

Mr Howlin made his comments in the Dáil last night after asking the CEO of the Labour Relations Commission to make contact with unions to see if the Croke Park 2 deal can be revived.

He said the Government will talk to staff who are prepared to reach a realistic compromise but he warned the time for any discussions is running out.

Despite widespread rejection of the deal, Minister Howlin still believes Croke Park 2 was a fair compromise.

He said: "This was a complex deal, much more complex than Croke Park one, because it strove so hard to be fair and balanced.

"The negotiators, particularly from the trade unions, worked hard to achieve that balance. They were also, I believe fair to the taxpayer."