TUI is seriously concerned at the government departure from the social partnership process which has contributed so greatly to our development as a nation for the last 22 years.

Negotiations of such a crucial nature clearly merited more than the two and a half hour discussion that transpired in the early hours of the morning at Government Buildings.

From our perspective there are faults in the proposals. Had there been adequate opportunity for further meaningful discussions, we believe many of these could have been ironed out.

Once again, public sector workers have been unfairly targeted.

We are particularly concerned that those on the lowest wages are not spared from this levy. Newly appointed teachers and lecturers, many of them part-time, will be inappropriately targeted at a time in their careers when they can least afford it.

We are also concerned that members will have made financial commitments based upon a salary that has now been further levied.

Our politicians talk about sharing the pain, but once again wealthy private sector employers remain protected while those who can least afford it will bear a disproportionate burden.

On a separate note, we are disappointed by the €95m reduction in Overseas Aid Development as we will no longer be on course to reach the UN aid target of spending 0.7% of GNP by 2012.