'More effort' must be put into averting public sector strike, Tánaiste says

Tánaiste Simon Harris said: 'I don't want to say anything that's provocative or escalatory, while I'm asking others to de-escalate.'

There must be "more effort" put into averting another all-out public sector strike, the Tánaiste has said, after the Government made an improved offer to unions.

The new offer could guarantee increases of 10.5% or 11% cumulatively for every public servant. There would be a bigger package and increases for lower-paid public servants, with some benefitting up to 17.8%.

The proposal would include a significant additional back payment of €1,200 or 2%, whichever is higher, in 2026, bringing pay increases for 2026 to 4% for public servants when the previous 2% increase introduced earlier this year is taken into account.

It is further understood that the deal would last just over two-and-a-half years, bringing the agreement into early 2029.

Speaking in Brussels, Simon Harris did not say that if unions go ahead with Thursday's strike the deal would be off the table, but asked for "more effort".

"I don't want to say anything that's provocative or escalatory, while I'm asking others to de-escalate," he said.

"But what I would say is the government has made a significant move by any fair objective. It is a significantly improved offer from the perspective of the unions and their members. Unions went out and sought a mandate for industrial action.

"At the time, they sought and secured an overwhelming mandate for that action. You have to remember there hadn't been formal offers, and perhaps there hadn't even been formal substantive talks.

"We're in a very, very different space now...When you have a government that was able to cut tax on your pay only a couple of weeks ago, that will take effect from January, and is now in a position of wanting to increase your pay as well. That people would try and respond in the spirit that that's put forward."

Mr Harris said there are "limitations to what any government can do, but we have moved".

"I'd really hope that that's now reflected in the talks today. There needs to be more effort put in today to trying to find a resolution than plan a strike."

Speaking later at Lough Derg on Monday morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked whether the improved offer to public service unions was “a take it or leave it” offer.

“That’s not in my language, but what I would say is: it is a very substantially improved offer; I think it meets all the criteria that were identified early on in respect of what would be the needs of a resolution of the issue.

“The Government wants a national pay agreement.

“We have expanded the public service over the last number of years; we want to be in a position in the future as well to have a sustainable budget that would enable us to continue to recruit teachers and nurses and special needs assistants, and many more public servants, gardaí and so forth, but to be able to do that, you do have to have a sustainable budget, and there is always a balance between pay and services and future development.

“So, it’s a very, very fair offer, and I believe there are further meetings today in respect of clarifications, and I don’t want to say anything further, but rather to allow those discussions to take place.” 

Mr Martin was asked about a timeline for a possible resolution of talks, given that people needed to make plans around such considerations as work and childcare.

“I don’t genuinely believe there’s a basis for strike action this week, I would hope, and I don’t want to put [time constraints] because there is a fluid situation and engagement continues.

“We agreed to set up an oversight panel in the context of these talks, and that oversight panel kicked into action on Thursday and Friday of last week, and out of that dynamic an offer has emerged, which we believe meets all of the criteria, and in our view, particularly for lower-paid workers, it’s a very substantial offer.”

• Paul Hosford, deputy political editor