Unions and Government to resume talks on recovery plan

The trade union movement is due to resume talks with Government officials today about an economic recovery plan.

The meeting is the first between the two sides since the talks were suspended ahead of the publication of the emergency Budget earlier this month.

The leader of Ireland's largest union, SIPTU president Jack O'Connor, warned at the weekend that workers would only sign up to a recovery plan if they get some social measures in return.

He said the Government must in particular safeguard private-sector pensions.

Mr O'Connor also set May 1 as the deadline to have the basis of a deal in place and warned that, if agreement cannot be reached, the country could be facing into widespread industrial action.