Finding pay deal compromise looks unlikely

The Government remains adamant it will achieve savings of €1bn gross in the public sector pay bill over the next three years.

Croke Park II was the first stab at achieving that objective and it has been firmly rejected by public sector workers.

Attempts are now being made to get both sides back to the drawing board, but it is hard to figure out what sort of compromise can now be achieved that will satisfy the objectives of both sides.