Public Sector

McGrath seeks ‘industrial peace’ as €2.7bn pay talks with public sector unions ramp up

Public expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe prepares to begin talks with the unions in the coming weeks as current deal will expire at the end of the year

Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath. ‘It is our objective to negotiate a successor agreement and I anticipate in the next number of weeks that negotiations will intensify.’ Picture: Fergal Phillips

Michael McGrath has said that engagement with public sector unions will “intensify” in the coming weeks ahead of negotiations on a new €2.7 billion pay deal.

The finance minister said that “industrial peace” is needed for the country as Paschal Donohoe, the public expenditure minister, prepares to begin talks in the coming weeks.

“I was involved in two separate negotiations which provided much-valued industrial peace in Ireland and that has been a very important ingredient ...