Dáil sitting climbdown must be followed by engagement on pay
Dáil sitting climbdown must be followed by engagement on pay - The Labour Party
- Business Committee due to meet at 2pm with new draft schedule showing no sitting day on Wednesday.
- Minister must now engage on pay and cost of living crisis to avoid another non-sitting day on 21st October.
Labour Whip Duncan Smith has welcomed the climbdown by the government over the Dáil sitting next Wednesday, after Labour called for TDs not to cross the picket line.
Deputy Smith further called on the government to now engage properly on future pay for public sector workers.
Deputy Smith said:
“Labour made it clear that we would not be passing a picket line outside the Dáil next Wednesday, and called on the government not to go through a Dáil sitting that would force their own backbenchers to break a picket. This action would also have been at the expense of our own private members time debate.
“The revised Dáil schedule circulated today recognises that principled position but does not change the underlying issue that has led to this strike.
“We have seen this week how statements from the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Taoiseach have sought to inflame the dispute further.
“With another strike due on Wednesday 21st October there is still time for the government to avoid the Dáil losing another sitting day.
“What is required is for the government to drop their arbitrary preconditions and commit to engaging in good faith with the trade unions representing public sector workers, with a commitment that future pay increases will, at a minimum, protect pay against inflation.”
ENDS