UP to €90,000 of funds from what are now cash-strapped local authorities was used to send union officials on trips around the world to train them for talks on the social partnership process.

IN common with other developed economies, Ireland has seen the movement of transnational capital across the globe.

I AM concerned at some of the alarmist media reports that the 17% pay increase awarded by the Labour Court to craftworkers in local authorities and health services is some sort of “super benchmarking” exercise that could “spark leapfrog pay epidemic”, to quote just two of the more exaggerated descriptions used.

Around 4,000 public service craftworkers are in line for a 17% pay rise. This comes as part of the Benchmarking agreement, and is almost twice the average increase.