The State's 3,200 prison officers have voted to accept a new pay deal aimed at drastically cutting the cost of overtime.
The results of a ballot by members of the Prison Officers Association show 68 per cent favour of accepting the compromise pay deal, which was the second offered by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell in their dispute over overtime.
The POA's National Executive had recommended its members accept the new deal. A similar proposal was rejected by a 70 per cent majority last April.
Mr McDowell, who this afternoon welcomed the result of the vote, is seeking drastic cuts to the prison officer overtime bill of €64 million per annum.
He said this result - if followed up by a true commitment to delivery by both management and front line workers - "could pave the way for a new era for the Irish Prison Service".
He said the deal "will guarantee staff an attractive, predictable and stable remuneration package into the future" and arrangements for implementation of the will proceed immediately.
Gabriel Keaveny, President of the POA said it was a positive outcome for prison officers and their families after a long and difficult process.
"After significant changes were negotiated on an initial proposal made without consultation in 2003 our members have now opted for a significantly improved option," he said. "This proposal will provide predictable working hours, guaranteed income, as well as removing the threat of privatisation."
The vote brings a resolution to a dispute lasting two years and involving over 300 meetings between Department of Justice and POA officials. The new deal was eventually struck following interventions by the Labour Relations Commission.
The new deal offered the POA the same annualised hours as a deal they rejected by two to one last April. Under that offer, prison officers would have earned between €48,000 and €70,000 per year and be required to work an average of seven hours overtime each week. They would also have been paid a once-off payment of €13,750.
However, the new deal contained amendments allowing 13 per cent of officers to work no overtime at all. The slack would be taken up by officers wishing to work more hours of overtime than was allowed under the previous deal.
The POA said t also removed the possibility of "unplanned call ins" and time off being offered to officers in lieu of pay.
Mr McDowell had warned the POA that if his latest offer was rejected, he would have pressed ahead with a cost-cutting programme that would have seen the privatisation of prison escorts and handing control of the open prisons at Loughan House, Co Cavan, and Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow, to a private company.