Progress made in Croke Park talks
| 20 May 2013 22:10 |
| The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has said that good progress has been made across all sectors in talks on a new public service pay agreement. |
| The department said that agreement had been reached yesterday for the civil service. |
| It said that the focus of the negotiations has narrowed to the two biggest sectors, which are health and education. |
| Intensive talks are continuing this evening, and it is expected that the final shape of the deal will be known when the talks conclude within the next 24 hours. |
| Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin will brief his Cabinet colleagues at a meeting tomorrow. |
| Meanwhile, Civil Public and Services Union General Secretary Eoin Ronayne has stressed that civil service unions have not signed off on a final agreement. |
| He said they are waiting to see a final document, including the cross-sectoral elements affecting the entire public service, and not just the civil service sector. |
| Earlier, the Health Service Executive said it is sticking to its target of €150m in savings from the health sector payroll this year. |
| This came despite indications that the Government might accept lower levels of reductions. |
| Yesterday, Minister of State Brian Hayes said that the full €300m in payroll reductions across the public sector might not be secured this year. |
| However, Mr Hayes insisted the Government was adamant it would save €1bn by 2015. |
