Byrner
04-24-2008, 03:01 PM
Minister for Health Mary Harney has said that any pay demands by public health workers should not be to the detriment of patient services.
Speaking before talks start on a new national agreement, Ms Harney called on all sectors involved in the negotiations to be mindful of the overall national interest.
Incoming Taoiseach Brian Cowen has also publicly appealed for pay moderation.
Talks get under way this afternoon amid warnings about the challenges facing the economy.
Employers' lobby group IBEC says the country cannot afford pay increases above low single-digit figures, pointing to deteriorating world and domestic economies.
With inflation currently running at 5%, unions will be seeking far more than that to protect their members' living standards, which have already been eroded by inflation over the last two years.
This afternoon, representatives of all the social partners, but no politicians, will gather at Government Buildings to review progress on the ten-year partnership agreement Towards 2016.
The community and voluntary pillar will slate the failure to deliver on promises of 300 primary care teams in the health system by 2008. They say there is no money in the budget to deliver them.
They will also complain about inadequate literacy targets in the workplace.
Social issues like childcare and training will be on the agenda, but pay will arguably be the toughest issue to resolve.
News Source:http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0424/partnership.html
Speaking before talks start on a new national agreement, Ms Harney called on all sectors involved in the negotiations to be mindful of the overall national interest.
Incoming Taoiseach Brian Cowen has also publicly appealed for pay moderation.
Talks get under way this afternoon amid warnings about the challenges facing the economy.
Employers' lobby group IBEC says the country cannot afford pay increases above low single-digit figures, pointing to deteriorating world and domestic economies.
With inflation currently running at 5%, unions will be seeking far more than that to protect their members' living standards, which have already been eroded by inflation over the last two years.
This afternoon, representatives of all the social partners, but no politicians, will gather at Government Buildings to review progress on the ten-year partnership agreement Towards 2016.
The community and voluntary pillar will slate the failure to deliver on promises of 300 primary care teams in the health system by 2008. They say there is no money in the budget to deliver them.
They will also complain about inadequate literacy targets in the workplace.
Social issues like childcare and training will be on the agenda, but pay will arguably be the toughest issue to resolve.
News Source:http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0424/partnership.html