LABOUR WILL ensure there are no compulsory redundancies under the Croke Park agreement on public sector pay, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has told party members.
In an email sent to members yesterday afternoon and seen by The Irish Times, the Labour leader states: “A key provision of Croke Park is that as long as progress on payroll savings and reform continues, there will be no cuts in pay or compulsory redundancies.
“As a Government party, Labour will make sure that this commitment is met, but a lot more needs to be done and we must not let the pace of change slacken off.”
The email is the latest in a series of occasional messages to the party membership from Mr Gilmore.
The Tánaiste was equally emphatic on the issue of Croke Park at a news conference after yesterday’s North-South Ministerial Council meeting.
Questioned about a comment by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar that the next agreement would have to provide for compulsory redundancies, he said: “Compulsory redundancies are ruled out by the Croke Park agreement. Compulsory redundancies are not on the agenda, full stop.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who was also at the news conference, said there was “no split whatsoever” in Government. “The Croke Park agreement is very clear. The agreement continues until the end of next year, it does not envisage any compulsory redundancies.”
He added: “The question of Croke Park two is not under discussion, we’re dealing with Croke Park one and that continues until the end of next year.”
