‘Lansdowne deal must be replaced’

The Government is under increasing pressure from opposition and public sector unions to initiate talks on a pay package to replace the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

It comes as the Department of Education was yesterday accused of not devising contingency plans to keep schools open during the ASTI’s industrial action, in order to bring the dispute “to a head” earlier.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams called on the Taoiseach to lay out a pathway to full pay restoration for public sector workers. This was echoed by Siptu president Jack O’Connor, who said negotiations on a new public sector pay deal should begin early in the new year.