merrion street

The Government at the request of Mr. Brendan Howlin, T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, today (20 November 2012) invited members of the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discussions on a new agenda for improvements in the productivity of public servants and reductions in the cost of delivery of public services.

This invitation has been issued in light of the Government’s determination to meet the challenge posed by the fiscal consolidation in the period from 2013 to 2015 to reduce the deficit below 3% of GDP by 2015, and a shared ambition to build on the substantial contribution already made by public servants to Ireland’s ongoing economic recovery.

Depending on the outcome of the initial discussions, the Government has indicated its willingness to enter a process of negotiation with the objective of concluding an agreement on workplace change and savings with its employees at the earliest possible date.