Irish Examiner view: Storm clouds cast shadow on economy

We have enjoyed a period of relative calm in industrial relations, but what's next?

In what might be viewed as psychological softening up, Kevin Callinan, general secretary of Fórsa, our largest public sector trade union, warns: 'The risk is that this Government will lose control of industrial relations in the public service for the first time in 40 years.'

It may be due to a common purpose generated by fighting the pandemic. It may be because of a general sense of recovery in the economy in the decade following the collapse of the Celtic Tiger. It may be from a shared reluctance to rock the boat, but we have enjoyed a period of relative calm in industrial relations in our country.

This is in marked contrast to our neighbours where rail strikes have been taking place for 18 months with little prospect of a settlement. Junior doctors are on the longest strike in their history. Last year witnessed action by airport security staff, postal workers, civil servants, town hall unions. Even the barristers were at it. In nearly all cases, these disputes are driven by cost-of-living anxieties or job insecurity.