IMPACT conference debates Croke Park deal

The controversial Croke Park deal on public sector pay and reform will be discussed at the IMPACT biennial conference in Kilkenny over the coming days.

The union, which represents 60,000 civil servants, is recommending acceptance of the proposals, although it originally opposed the deal.

Its Central Executive Committee changed tack after clarification on issues such as pay, pensions and job security.

Spokesperson Niall Shanahan said: "We have had an economic crisis brought about by irresponsible behaviour in the financial industry… The fall-out from that (has developed into) a debate about public servants' pay…A lot of public servants feel they were vilified and scape-goated."