Pay talks likely as soon as April in bid to head off strikes

Talks to replace the under-fire Lansdowne Road agreement could begin as soon as April as part of the Government’s attempts to prevent growing public sector anger spilling over into widespread strikes.

Government sources confirmed to the Irish Examiner last night the move is being considered days after Siptu president Jack O Connor set a deadline of this Thursday for agreement on early talks to begin by February 1.

Speaking in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, as part of remembrance Sunday events in the North, Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned any successor to Lansdowne Road will not be put in place before the existing deal runs out.