Staff at the Chief State Solicitor's Office are to meet early this morning to consider a new set of proposals aimed at averting a strike which could seriously disrupt the court system.
The proposals, suggesting the dispute be referred to a third party, emerged from discussions yesterday between management and representatives of the trade union IMPACT.
They will be considered by staff at a meeting at 8.30 a.m., just 2 1/2 hours before the threatened strike is due to begin.
Strike notice was served last week by solicitors, legal officers and technical staff in the office, who process all the State's legal work.
The Government says the strike could cripple the work of the courts and could affect cases involving serious crimes, but management of the State Solicitor's Office will make every effort to provide essential legal services.
As part of the planned strike, which would be a full work stoppage, IMPACT says pickets will be placed at the Four Courts, the State Solicitor's Office in Ship Street, the Criminal Assets Bureau, and possibly the tribunals in Dublin Castle.
The 60 solicitors and 37 legal officers, represented by IMPACT, overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a longstanding dispute over understaffing and poor career structures for technical and professional staff, according to IMPACT.
The Government made an offer to staff in November, which it says provides for an improved salary scale, large increase in staff numbers and considerable promotional opportunities for existing staff.
The Government's offer said newly qualified solicitors with a degree would start on almost £20,000 a year, progressing to over £40,000 in six years.
Some 52 extra professional staff would be appointed and more promotions would become available.
For technical staff, the Government offered an additional 14 appointments.
Extra senior posts, with salaries ranging from £26,843 to £47,363 were offered. Technical staff would also have opportunities to qualify as solicitors.
Mr Kevin O'Driscoll, IM PACT's national secretary, said November's offer was "roundly rejected out of hand by an overwhelming majority as too little, too late".
The office was in crisis, he said, with workers leaving more quickly than they could be replaced. Staff were under "intolerable pressure" with the tribunals, the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau, the refugee situation, as well as ongoing court activities.
The State Solicitor's Office finds it impossible to provide an adequate service because it is understaffed by at least 20 per cent, IMPACT says.
The union says it wants an immediate increase in technical and professional staff, as well as a restructuring of the staffing system to attract and retain quality staff.
Mr O'Driscoll said it was the first time the staff had gone on strike in the history of the State, and their decision had not been taken lightly. Nor had it been "opportunistic" in its timing, he added.