Negotiations between public sector unions and the government have collapsed.

Speaking this afternoon, TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin said:

“Negotiations between public sector unions and the government have collapsed after the government ultimately rejected a possible workable situation for all parties.

An agreement seemed to be in place which would have allowed for considerable savings to the exchequer and reform of the public service while providing a period of agreement in the absence of industrial unrest.

However, the government did not have the moral courage to proceed and social partnership now lies dead on the floor of Government Buildings.

Any agreement would have been put before members in a ballot.

The Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) will meet as soon as is possible to assess the current situation.”