Cabinet mull extending Croke Park talks as teachers’ unions back strike

The Cabinet will have to decide today whether to extend a further lifeline to the Croke Park II talks following intensive negotiations.

Labour Relations Commission chief Kieran Mulvey was expected to report to Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin this morning that progress was made during the last-ditch talks with unions representing health and education workers but that hurdles remain.

A decision will now have to be taken whether to stick with the talks process with no guarantee that, even if a deal is made, union leaders would be able to sell it to their members.