National pay deal hangs in balance

TALKS on a new national agreement were continuing at Government Buildings last night as negotiators sought to end the longest-ever set of negotiations in almost 20 years of social partnership.

A deal had been predicted at the weekend as unions, employers and Government negotiators entered a final push for a successor to Sustaining Progress which expired at the end of last year.

Arriving at the talks Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg said he was hopeful of talks concluding in the coming days.

Final sticking points remain over whether a pay deal of 4.5% to 5% can be accompanied by the freedom to negotiate higher rises in profitable sectors.

Among the measures provisionally agreed is the appointment of 60 new labour inspectors as well as an increase in fines for breaches of employment law.

The Government has also agreed to introduce legislation to prevent employers dumping employees in favour of less expensive staff from abroad.