Leinster House strike row: Taoiseach faces union backlash over call for staff derogation

Unions have condemned the Taoiseach’s intervention, while Fianna Fáil TDs question whether they could cross a picket line next Wednesday

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking to the media ahead of the Cairde Fail president's dinner at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. Picture date: Saturday October 3, 2026.

The Taoiseach has said public sector workers in the Oireachtas should be excluded from widespread industrial action, saying there “doesn’t need to be a picket” outside Leinster House next Wednesday.

Micheál Martin has pushed back on suggestions that striking workers may picket Leinster House next week and disrupt Dáil business, saying that parliamentary democracy “is not something we should take lightly”. 

His comments have been met with anger from trade unions, and outrage from the opposition.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Leinster House staff have not been granted a derogation by unions to carry out their work next Wednesday.

It is expected there will be a picket outside Leinster House, with uncertainty over whether the Government will permit a Dáil sitting to go ahead.

Mr Martin said he believed a derogation should be in place for Leinster House, saying the operation of the Dáil was an “expression of the democratic will of the people".

“I'm elected directly by the people to represent the people, to legislate for the people, and that's something I take very seriously,” Mr Martin said.

Asked if this meant he would cross a picket line, Mr Martin said: “I made my position clear in terms of where I think there can be derogations, and there doesn’t need to be a picket.

“I’m saying to all concerned — parliamentary democracy matters and we shouldn’t just be lightly chipping away at it, because that could have unforeseen consequences in the future in different contexts."

'Unfair and unreasonable'

Union sources said they were "dismayed" by the Taoiseach's comments, pointing out that the industrial action had been called using the existing industrial relations mechanism.

A source called the comments "unfair and unreasonable".

There was stronger condemnation from Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly, a long-time union official, who called the comments "disgraceful".

Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly. Picture: PA

A derogation for Leinster House staff had been granted by trade unions for the ongoing work-to-rule period, which allows workers to go beyond their normal working hours while the Dáil is sitting late. 

This, however, has not been extended to next week’s strike action.

Mr Martin said he did not believe the basis existed for industrial action, and pointed to the €1.2bn provided for public sector pay talks in last Tuesday’s budget.

Several Fianna Fáil backbenchers baulked at the prospect of crossing any picket line following Mr Martin’s comments, while every opposition party has confirmed they will not cross a picket line.

One TD said that the Government cannot ask them to cross a picket line, pointing out that some Fianna Fáil TDs will be on the picket lines in their constituency.

“If there was a whipped vote and there was a picket [outside Leinster House], there would be trouble with the numbers,” the TD said.

Another Fianna Fáil TD said they would be “uncomfortable” crossing a picket line, but questioned the appropriateness of striking outside Leinster House and impeding the work of the “organs of the State”.

Multiple party sources confirmed that chief whip Mary Butler had been in contact with TDs, suggesting that Dáil votes could be taken on Tuesday rather than Wednesday to avoid the strike. A spokesperson for Ms Butler said that she may propose that "votable business takes place on Tuesday, and it remains to be determined what other two days next week the Dáil will sit".

Meanwhile, the Department of Enterprise confirmed that a major AI summit being hosted by Ireland on the day will go ahead as planned in the RDS.