‘Bilateral talks on pay deal the way forward’

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) has offered to coordinate bilateral talks between the Government and public service trade unions on an agreement to replace the failed Croke Park II proposals.

Ictu general secretary David Begg claimed unions who are not willing to take cuts or changes to their working conditions are “not being realistic”.

He said there will have to be a negotiated settlement to the impasse between Government and unions “if not now, at some stage in the future”.