Ahern’s last-ditch plea for national pay deal

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will this morning make a last-minute plea for unions and employers to conclude a national pay deal, as he addresses IMPACT’s biennial conference in Kerry.

Commenting yesterday, Mr Ahern said it was still his view that a wide gulf remained between both sides although he was pleased that at least both sides were “prepared to try to find an agreement.”

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) president and IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone warned yesterday of the consequences of failure.