Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has criticised the government’s handling of public sector pay negotiations.

Talks have been adjourned until the new year meaning that there will be no deal in place when the current deal expires on December 31st.

Teachta Conway-Walsh said:

“This is very concerning for the 385,000 public sector workers involved. That includes nurses, Gardaí, bus drivers and so many others.

“Public sector workers have seen their wages eroded by inflation like everyone else. They deserved to have a fair agreement in place before Christmas.

“All workers, particularly those on low and middle incomes, need to be shielded from inflation and their wages protected in real terms.

“The government should never have left the formal opening to negotiation talks so late in the year if they were not confident that an agreement could be reached in time.

“By engaging in this brinkmanship, the government is risking strike action and disruption to public services.

“There is no reason a fair agreement cannot be reached – provided the government engages in a manner that reflects the hardship many workers are facing in this cost-of-living crisis.”