I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the current public service pay agreement - the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 - runs to the end of the year.
Within the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to negotiate a new agreement with the public service unions which would take account of, inter alia, the State's financial position and outlook and that could include a mechanism to make progress on sectoral issues.
I will give full consideration to all of these issues over the coming weeks and arrangements will be made for discussions with relevant staff interests at the appropriate time.