Varadkar: Govt must get better agreement with unions than present deal

on 10/09/2012 14:12:37

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said talks with public sector unions on a successor to the Croke Park Agreement should take place sooner rather than later.

Mr Varadkar's comments are directly at odds with the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who today said the deal should remain as it is until 2014.

The Croke Park Agreement is under the spotlight at the Fine Gael think-in in Co. Mayo today, as discussions continue as to where the axe should fall in December's Budget.

Minister Varadkar said if a better deal can be renegotiated with unions before 2014, then it should be implemented.

Earlier, the Tánaiste said the Government will honour the terms of the Croke Park Agreement.

Mr Gilmore said the deal has successfully delivered savings in the public sector and that the Government is not the sort to break agreements.

Mr Gilmore said: "There is one agreement and we are going to honour that agreement.

"The agreement is...in writing, it's on paper; it has 18 more months to run, or thereabouts and we are going to honour that agreement.

"It has delivered, and (when) the government makes an agreement it keeps it."