IBEC calls for recovery plan

EMPLOYERS’ body IBEC has joined calls for the Government to re-activate talks with the social partners on a new economic recovery plan.

Just three days after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) announced it would organise a strike of up to 500,000 workers on March 30 if the Government did not commence a new talks process, IBEC director general Turlough O’Sullivan said there could no longer be any delay in implementing measures to address the economic crisis.

“The main opposition parties have indicated that they favour a consensus on what needs to be done. They should be taken at their word,” he said.

“IBEC has strongly advocated the need for a coherent, integrated plan to address the economic crisis. This must have three essential parts. It needs to bring stability to the banking sector; make a realistic and prudent start to getting the public finances into balance with an early mini-budget; and... underpin and support enterprise creatively and radically in order to stop the haemorrhage of jobs.”

Mr O’Sullivan IBEC believes “that government has the responsibility to put an outline plan on the table now for immediate consideration by the Oireachtas and the social partners. IBEC is prepared to support firm and fair decisions that would... share pain equitably”.

However, while ICTU shares IBEC’s sentiments on re-invigorating talks on a recovery plan and on sharing the pain of recovery equitably, union sources were sceptical about the motives of the employers’ body.

One source said: “We know they are against increases in taxation, want cuts in the public sector if not across the economy and do not want to share the pain.” Union leaders and the Government will continue informal talks at the weekend aimed at re-energising the talks. However, neither side will commit to a process unless there is some likelihood it will succeed.

Meanwhile, IMPACT, which represents 60,000 workers in the public service, yesterday started dispatching ballot papers to its branches and individual members. The union is among a number balloting over ICTU plans for the March 30 national strike.

“We will be seeking discussions with appropriate employers to ensure that essential and emergency cover is in place during the proposed one-day strike,” the union said. IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone said “in the absence of [a social partnership deal on economic recovery], our members will support industrial action to prevent workers — public and private sector — bearing the entire brunt of an economic crisis they didn’t create”.