National pay talks - The vulnerable will suffer

THE pay talks finally collapsed at about 4am on Saturday morning. For the first time in more than 20 years, since the economic nightmare of the 1980s, there is no pay agreement in place.

With the economy appearing to slide into recession, the remedies being offered by the various sectors were simply irreconcilable. But there would appear to have been no rancour. No side sought to blame the other. All purportedly desired an agreement, but they simply could not agree on the measures to be taken.

At present no side seems to have any plans to rescue the situation. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste thanked all for their efforts.