Employment issues dominate at outset of pay deal talks

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will focus heavily on employment standards when he outline’s the Government’s priorities for a new social partnership deal, at the start of formal talks this afternoon.

With the talks delayed for more than three months over union concerns at job displacement and workers rights, these issues will dominate as the social partners - including the Government, employer bodies, farm groups, unions and community and voluntary organisations - gather in Dublin Castle.

Union participation was secured after commitments by the Government to address job displacement and workers rights in a first strand of negotiations, before agreement can be reached on central issues such as pay.