In fairness, Social partnership did deliver industrial peace for a number of years, and perhaps at the start, some of the payrises were merited. Certain things, such as ROS.ie were introduced without too much fuss from unions and this should be recognised. However, as it progressed, I have to question if the price that was paid in latter years was too much, with little to be seen for the taxpayer in return. The money paid to unions for "training" also leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Perhaps it's biggest legacy it left is the sense of entitlement within the public sector workforce, entitlement to increments and payrises without delivering tangible benifits and reform. I believe that the unions, under social partnership, forgot their social responsibility for society, the taxpayer and the end user of services and the price of this was getting the most in financial terms for their members.