Let’s hope the Government takes more notice of yesterday’s OECD report on pensions than its predecessor did of the 1980 EU Insolvency Directive, introduced to protect employees’ pension rights in the event of their employer becoming insolvent.

Croke Park II has been rejected, perhaps with a tight margin, but rejected nevertheless. What follows may not be pleasant.

The Government may seek to introduce elements of Croke Park II to avoid crippling strike action which would result from a direct 7% pay cut across the public service.

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis has heard a blistering personal attack on the Minister for Public Expenditure.

The Cork region is “facing a commercial property crisis” which could hamper employment growth, Cork Chamber president John Mullins has warned.

The eight union executives which have urged their members reject the Croke Park II deal will meet officially for the first time next week to discuss a strategy to “protect existing pay rates and terms and conditions”.

The teachers of the country got some bad press over their rowdy behaviour — and their red cards — to Ruairi Quinn this week.

The way has been paved for primary teachers to take part in a combined union movement against further cuts if they reject Croke Park II.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has warned teachers that if they reject the Croke Park II proposals, the Government will be forced to hit frontline services.

A second day of anger lies ahead for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn from teachers already planning withdrawal of some work practices over the Croke Park II pay proposals.

THEY’RE calling it Croke Park II even though it wasn’t hatched within an ass’s roar of the GAA’s headquarters.

Croke Park II is win-win for the political elite.

When the very brief discussions — 30 minutes — between Government and unions around a renewed Croke Park deal ended yesterday union leaders expressed dismay and suggested that what they termed as “radical” proposals from Government would not be accepted by their members.

For some the Croke Park deal epitomises all that is wrong in this country.