Minister for Health Mary Harney today backed the Government’s plan to cut €2 billion in exchequer spending this year and said she hopes it can “save the country.”
“I believe nobody has a bigger stake in this country than the people who live here, whether they are politicians or public servants or trade unionists," the Minister said.
"Nobody can do more to save this country now than we can. “That applies to each and every one of us whether we are in Government or in opposition.
"The time for squabbling is over. We need constructive criticism and not destructive cynicism.
With talks between the Government and the social partners at a crucial phase, Ms Harney said she hopes Taoiseach Brian Cowen can deliver for the sake of the country.
“I believe that the input he is putting into this is appropriate and I hope it delivers success, not just for him but for the whole country.”
“Tomorrow the Government will make decisions and I hope those decisions can be based on agreement with the other stakeholders in our society - the social partners."
Ms Harney also said the current economic crisis is more difficult than the one the country faced in the 1980s and said it is a “challenging time for social partnership”.
“Any element of public sector pay or pensions that is agreed by the social partnership process or will be decided tomorrow by the Government will apply to everybody — to gardaí, to nurses, teachers, consultants,” she added.
