Breakthrough in partnership talks on the table

THERE are fresh hopes of a possible breakthrough in partnership talks this morning after employers agreed at the weekend to forego redundancy rebate payments if lay-offs are deemed to be displacement.

The move, which will be formally put to unions in a meeting scheduled for tonight, is being portrayed by some as a key development which would go a long way towards the union goal of putting measures in place to prevent an Irish Ferries-type situation on land.

Controversially, Irish Ferries is still seeking State redundancy rebates, as it is legally entitled to do, to help it pay the costs of laying off most of its staff.