Government may deduct pay from marchers

THE Government may consider deducting pay from thousands of public servants who miss work to take part in next week’s Irish Ferries protests.

The Department of Finance has yet to hear officially from public service unions about plans to withdraw members from work during the mass rallies planned for Dublin and six other venues around the country. But a spokesperson said a decision would have to be made about whether deductions would have to be made.

Although many public servants may be facilitated by taking extended lunch breaks, thousands more may have to travel some distance to regional protests, requiring them to be absent from work for the entire day.