Strikes on EU summit days won’t ‘dictate pace’ of public pay talks – Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the prospect of nationwide strike action playing out during next week’s European political summits cannot “dictate the pace” of negotiations over a national pay agreement.

Union members are preparing for a 24-hour national walkout on the same day as a major EU presidency event.

A massive security operation will be in place around the two EU presidency events, which will see around 50 heads of state visiting the Irish capital.

Mr Martin said he hoped a deal could be agreed before the major set piece events in Dublin next Thursday and Friday.

“There’s intensive negotiations going on and have been all day, and I would hope that we can bring a satisfactory resolution to that. We want a national pay agreement,” he told RTÉ’s Late Late Show.

Asked if there was added pressure on the Government to strike the deal to avoid potentially negative optics of a strike next week, Mr Martin replied: “I can’t allow that to dictate the pace, and I’ve made that very clear because we’ve got to think of 2027 and 2028. We want certainly to do a fair pay deal.

“We also want to continue to hire more nurses, teachers into the future, special needs assistants, and so on in those years.

“So it’s a balance, and we understand that people are under pressure. Right across Europe and in Ireland cost of living is the biggest single issue facing people and families. So we understand that.

“So with a combination of measures through a public service pay agreement, through taxation cuts, reduce childcare costs, we’re hoping we can do something and to alleviate the undoubted pressures that are on workers and that are on people more generally.”

Earlier, the Tánaiste said he is confident that the two major EU presidency events will go ahead in Dublin next week, despite the nationwide strike.

The looming strike action will put further pressure on an already stretched security operation.

A rank-and-file Garda work-to-rule is also planned in the days around the event in a dispute over their working conditions.

Speaking in Co Cork ahead of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis taking place this weekend, Simon Harris said that everyone needs to put “less effort” into “thinking about the strike” and more effort into resolving the situation.

Trade unions and Government officials are holding further talks with an independent body to resolve the long-running dispute over public sector pay.

Mr Harris said the independent expert panel, chaired by the Workplace Relations Commission’s Kevin Foley, has been intensively engaging with both sides in recent days.

“I think the next natural step, I hope, to see now is both sides, Government and unions, being back in a room, trying to take forward the talks,” he said.

“Let’s remember the context here, though.

“The Government of Ireland wants to increase the pay of public servants.

“We want to pay them more.

“We want to increase their wages, and we want to do it now.

“And against that backdrop, we should be looking for resolution rather than disruption.

“I take the serious point about the major European events that are here next Thursday, but certainly what will be concerning people more here in Middleton and across Cork and across Ireland is: Will my child’s school be closed? Will my hospital appointment be cancelled? What will it mean for me going about my daily life?

“We don’t need that disruption.

“And in fairness to, and I must say this in a constructive fashion, in fairness to those working in the public sector, I imagine the overwhelming majority of them would much rather be in their workplace, carrying out their vital public service next week too.”

Mr Harris said there is a “significant” period of time between today and next Thursday.

“I’m also aware of the fact though that as you get closer to the day of the strike, it does become harder to find resolution,” he added.

“I’d respectfully suggest there’s a few key dates between now and perhaps the end of the weekend, starting next week, to really try and get this issue moving forward.”

The Fine Gael leader said the Government has been assured by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly that the security plans he has in place to oversee the major EU events are to “his satisfaction”.

Mr Harris said he is confident the events will go ahead next week.

“But what I’m also saying is this: it’s Friday. There’s a window to disruption next Thursday. Let’s use it,” he added.

“So rather than anybody just kind of planning the strike, let’s plan the resolution and let’s really work intently on that.

“We’re up for it.

“I’ve no reason or indication, in fairness to union leaders, to believe they’re not.

“But let’s just try to get the job done here in everybody’s interest.

“Because whether you’re a union leader or a politician, we all actually want to see people working in the public service get a better wage.”

Meanwhile, disruptions around bomb threat hoaxes also threaten to impact next week’s events.

On Friday morning, bomb threats were sent to Irish media organisations on Friday morning  leading to an evacuation of RTÉ’s buildings.

It came amid a week of similar threats to airlines, which have seen dozens of flights diverted and searched, including some which departed Ireland.

Also speaking in Cork, Defence Minister Helen McEntee said that the security operation needs to be “airtight” ahead of the events.

“It’s been a challenging few days,” she said.

“I think we need to make sure that every structure that has been running based on the presidency from a security perspective is airtight.

“I’ve no doubt in the coming days, despite the fact that we’ve had a challenging few days, there will be lessons learned that and Gardaí will investigate and hopefully will identify, whether there is one person or many individuals responsible specifically for the hoaxes against many actors.”

“We have a really, really strong structure in place across the Gardaí, across the defence forces, across our agencies, and they will continue to work as effectively as they have been over the last number of months and in the weeks ahead.

“But what it just shows, is that none of us are immune to these types of risks. None of us are immune to these types of challenges.”