Unions better to stick at Croke Park talks

THE decision by middle-ranking garda management to walk away from crucial talks between the Government and the public service unions represents a serious setback for the ongoing process of negotiation aimed at securing an extension of the Croke Park agreement.

Though not entirely unexpected, the walkout by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors is bound to deliver a psychological blow to the Coalition’s hopes of achieving deeper reform of the service and further cuts of €1bn off the State’s pay and pensions bill between 2013 and 2015. What is less certain now is whether these objectives can be achieved without forfeiting Ireland’s admirable track record of industrial relations stability.

The hostility of the AGSI executive to further pay cuts was plain to hear in the words of its general secretary, John Redmond, who warned yesterday that there seems no chance of garda sergeants and inspectors re-entering the negotiation process. Clearly, however, unless they are prepared to so do, they will find themselves out in the cold.