The Tánaiste has warned public servants not to put at risk the country's exit from the bailout by getting involved in conflict and confrontation.
Eamon Gilmore was speaking in the Dáil as he faced questions about the coalition's plan following the rejection of the so-called 'Croke Park II' agreement by public service workers.
It had hoped to save €1 billion from the pay bill over the next 3 years - with €300 million needing to be found in the last six months of this year alone.
Despite repeated questions from Sinn Féin in the Dáil, Eamon Gilmore refused to say if the coalition intends to proceed with imposing public service pay cuts without agreement.
Mr. Gilmore says unions need to explain why they rejected the deal, while remembering what's at stake:
A row then developed with the United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly.
She suggested that Mr. Gilmore and the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin should just join Fine Gael:
