Wednesday Dáil sitting expected to be cancelled amid possible public sector picket at Leinster House

The decision follows unions’ refusal to exempt Oireachtas staff from next week’s industrial action, after Micheál Martin urged a derogation

A draft schedule of Dáil business for next week, seen by the Irish Examiner, confirms that the only proposed sitting days are Tuesday and Thursday.

A Dáil sitting scheduled for next Wednesday is expected to be cancelled amid expectations of a picket line by public sector workers outside Leinster House.

A draft schedule of Dáil business for next week, seen by the Irish Examiner, confirms that the only proposed sitting days are Tuesday and Thursday.

The Dáil’s Business Committee is due to meet at 2pm on Saturday to confirm the revised schedule.

The cancellation follows the unions’ decision not to grant Leinster House staff a derogation to continue working next Wednesday, when public sector strikes are due to take place nationwide.

There had been uncertainty over whether the Dáil could sit if a picket took place, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin arguing that Oireachtas staff should be exempt from the industrial action.

Mr Martin described the operation of the Dáil as 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.”

Opposition welcomes cancellation

The decision to cancel Wednesday’s sitting has been welcomed by the opposition, with Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan saying he was glad the Government had “seen sense”.

“Now that the government has seen sense on this issue, they should take the next logical step and make a credible offer on pay to public sector unions so they can get around a table and have talks,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

Labour TD Duncan Smith also welcomed the decision, but criticised Mr Martin for having countenanced a Dáil sitting on Wednesday in the first place.

Union sources said they were “dismayed” by Mr Martin’s comments, pointing out that the industrial action had been called through the existing industrial relations mechanism. One source described his remarks as “unfair and unreasonable”.

Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly, a long-time union official, condemned the comments as “disgraceful”.

Derogation not extended to strike action

Trade unions had granted Leinster House staff a derogation during the ongoing work-to-rule period, allowing them to work beyond their normal hours when the Dáil sits late. 

However, this has not been extended to next week’s strike action.

Mr Martin said he did not believe there was a basis for industrial action, pointing 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 a picket line following Mr Martin’s comments, while every opposition party has confirmed it will not cross one.

One TD said the Government could not ask them to cross a picket line, noting that some Fianna Fáil TDs would be on picket lines in their own constituencies.