Local pay bargaining will return, says SIPTU president

The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have met to discuss the breakdown of the national pay agreement talks.

Speaking as he left the meeting SIPTU President Des Geraghty said it means a return to local pay bargaining.

"I think it is a pity we don't have a national agreement, but without a national agreement we are going to make sure the issues on the agenda are dealt with because they are too important for ordinary people in this country," he said.

"We are not going to allow the poor in this country to suffer and to actually pay for the errors of other people. And we are going to work very hard to deliver on the agenda we set out in the negotiations."