Ireland: New national agreement

Following government intervention, a new national pay accord has been agreed by the social partners, subject to approval by members.

Talks on a new national pay agreement broke down in mid-December over the issues of pay and the right to union representation. Subsequently, prime minister Bertie Ahern and other government ministers intervened to try to bring about a settlement, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC) ultimately agreed a new national pay agreement in mid-January.