Recent media coverage would indicate that both Unions and the Government are all but publicly admitting talks on a national economic recovery plan are coming to an end with no agreement being reached.
David Begg, General Secretary of the ICTU, speaking to RTÉ, said that there was nothing more the unions could say to the Government about its proposals for economic recovery through a social solidarity pact and it had been clear from the talks that the Department of Finance was in the dominant role in Government affairs. Larry Broderick of the Irish Bank Officials Association said it was unacceptable that the Government had not come up with a strategy to tackle the unemployment crisis while Betty Tyrell Collard of the Civil and Public Service Union described the talks as a ploy, a sentiment echoed by IMPACT General Secretary Peter McLoone. Speaking on radio last week, General President of SIPTU Jack O’Connor said he does not believe there will be a partnership deal while yesterday Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has said that a deal will not be reached with the social partners at any cost.
Read more on RTÉ.ie:
Hanafin – Govt has partnership deal limits
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0503/partnership.html
Begg pessmistic on chances of recovery plan
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/economy.html
‘Old-style’ partnership deal unlikely
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0501/economy.html