Public sector action may hit St Patrick's Day parades

Some of the country's largest St Patrick's Day parades could be at risk because of public service industrial action.

IMPACT has written to members working in Cork City Council instructing them to withdraw their participation in the organisation of local authority-run event.

Such festival organisation is outside the terms of some workers contracts but is an example of flexibility shown by public service workers.

Currently the move applies to Cork City Council only but IMPACT said it cannot rule out issuing similar instructions to other local authority workers around the country.