National pay talks - Taxpayers entitled to proper service

There are significant differences dividing trade unions and employers ahead of tomorrow’s resumption of pay negotiations, but it is crucial that they remember the gains can sustain economic stability in the immediate future to the advantage of all.

Despite having expressed pessimism earlier this week in the Dáil about a possible outcome, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was a little more buoyant in advance of his attendance at the IMPACT conference yesterday.

He adverted to the benefits that would accrue across wide-ranging social and economic areas with the advent of another agreement. That is to state the obvious, because the advantages of such agreements are there to be evidenced at first hand.