'Cocktail of problems' in current PPF - IMPACT

The trade union IMPACT has described the current social partnership agreement as unacceptable in its present form because of "a cocktail of problems".

The union, which represents many public sector workers, said that inadequate public services, wage inequality and the provision of childcare and housing are all areas that remain to be addressed.

General Secretary Peter McLoone said preliminary discussions on the successor to the PPF need to begin now.

He said it would be foolish to assume that support would remain high for any future agreements if such concerns were not addressed.