Unions are calling for a new contractual framework for ministerial drivers.

The chances of Wednesday’s 24-hour strike by Ryanair pilots being called off narrowed significantly last night after the company said it would not be in a position to meet unions until that day.

Irish Water has been accused of scaremongering after it revealed plans to complete its takeover of all local authority staff working in water services four years earlier than intended.

The IMPACT trade union says we need better early intervention for children with special needs.

The Government has been urged to increase the number of educational psychologists across the country by 60% due to the volume of children needing psychological support.

You know the drill. The music cranks up, you shake off the rust from your joints and you climb to your feet.

The country’s largest public sector union has warned that the newly-announced Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) will quickly become “debased” in the eyes of the State’s employees if it is staffed by “the usual suspects”.

Inadequate and outdated facilities, as well as an upsurge in gangland crime, is putting forensic scientists’ abilities to process evidence under threat.

Because of the premature closure of St Patrick’s ‘prison’, violent young offenders are inadequately housed and are a danger to themselves and to care workers, says John Byrne 

The number of people dropping out of the Government’s JobBridge national internship programme early each year is almost as high as those who are completing the scheme, figures show.

WHEN is it acceptable to use the dead to make a political point, asks Michael Clifford

Security measures at the Oberstown detention facility are being reviewed as gardaí continue to search for three teenage boys who absconded from the centre on Saturday night.

A possible strike by special needs assistants (SNAs) has been averted by new rules giving those employed part-time a better chance of extra hours in schools.

Irish sports stars have lined out in favour of the marriage equality yes campaign, saying a change in the law will tell young fans: “It’s OK to be who you are.”

The IMPACT trade union has accused the IAG group of rehashing the current growth strategy of Aer Lingus management and using it as its own.

A senior trade union official says IAG will have to "do a lot" to convince members to back their bid for Aer Lingus.

Trade unions at Aer Lingus have distanced themselves from claims from a person within their ranks that workers are now in favour of a takeover by IAG.

Up to 1,200 jobs could be lost at Aer Lingus if the airline is sold to IAG, according to the IMPACT trade union.

Librarians are throwing the book at plans to develop staffless libraries which would allow for longer opening hours.

Business and union leaders have urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to "show leadership" and call together a national forum to hammer out pay and welfare deals as the economy recovers.

The Impact trade union says it is good that the Government is looking at improving people's standard of living.

More than 160 staff at a Dublin local authority are to stage two days of work stoppages at the end of this month over management’s decision to stop making ‘acting payments’ to a number of staff.

Aer Lingus cabin crew have begun their 24 hour strike at the country's major airports.

The cabin crew branch of Impact trade union has served notice of industrial action on Aer Lingus.

The IMPACT trade union is warning that a strike at Aer Lingus is "very likely" this summer.

One of the country’s busiest local authorities is facing industrial action, including the possibility of strikes, by its staff over a decision to remove "acting-up" pay from a number of workers.

Ryanair says public comments made by pilots’ spokesman Evan Cullen about how its fuel policy allegedly affects its safety practices were defamatory, the High Court has heard.

Aer Lingus passengers face significant disruption to travel plans in the run-up to Christmas after the airline’s cabin crew overwhelming backed industrial action over a catalogue of grievances.

One in 10 of the workers in full-time employment who are forced to boost their earnings with family income supplement payments are state employees.

Minor welfare concerns are building up to a risk of abuse in some childcare situations because of a shortage of social workers.

The Executive Committee of the IMPACT Trade Union said that it will sign-up to the latest public sector pay deal.

James Reilly, the health minister, has been accused of failing to implement 18 of 20 actions on health reform which were due to be in place by April, Impact trade union has claimed.

An additional 40 acute beds have been allocated to address overcrowding at one of the country’s busiest & emergency departments.

As teaching delegates at all levels vent their anger at the Croke Park II deal, a union representative for 10,000 non-teaching staff in the sector has called for the deal to be accepted.

The IMPACT trade union is criticising the Government's plans for Universal Health Insurance.

The HSE has admitted staff morale is low and that there is no accountability structure for clinicians within its acute hospital network in the Mid-West.

Dole queues, emigration, poverty and waiting lists — if this is recovery, then spare us the cure.

ETIHAD Airways has entered the race to acquire the Government’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus.

IALPA, the pilots branch of IMPACT trade union, has accepted an invitation to resume talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

FUNDING cuts of up to 20% are forcing grassroots voluntary sector organisations supporting elderly, homeless and disabled people to cut staffing numbers and drastically reducing services to the most vulnerable.

HEALTH staff have warned that the abolition of the HSE must bring an end to the practice of chiefs in the health service basing their decisions on bottom lines, targets and projections rather than on the patients.

The IMPACT trade union has said it is not convinced Aer Lingus is still in crisis, and has asked for more detail on the gloomy picture painted by the airline this morning.

It has emerged today that some senior Council staff are entitled to up to 42 days' holiday per year.

The dispute which led to widespread flight cancellations at Aer Lingus has now been completely resolved.

Aer Lingus was accused tonight of attempting to frighten cabin crew into submission with threats to sack them as a row over rosters escalated.

Aer Lingus vowed today to break even this year after the airline enjoyed a dramatic fall in financial losses.

Aer Lingus dramatically reduced its losses in the first half of the year, company accounts revealed today.

PROBATION officers who have been key to bringing freed rapist Larry Murphy back under supervision said they face a staffing crisis due to the huge number of offenders being referred to them.

AER LINGUS has admitted it is making preparations for disruptive strikes in spite of further assurances by cabin crew that they will not ground the airline unless provoked by management.

THE outcome of a ballot that could lead to major unrest at Aer Lingus and the potential grounding of thousands of passengers through strikes will be made known this afternoon.