Donohoe blames stalled pay talks on unions 'raising new items'

Talks have been under way between the unions and the Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission since late November. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins 

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has blamed stalled public sector pay talks on “a number of new items” being raised by unions late in the process.

Talks have been under way between the unions and the Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) since late November. However, union figures had become frustrated at the slow pace of the negotiations in recent days.