It’s unlikely that further exploratory talks on a pay deal to succeed the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) will take place before a new government is formed. Fórsa had been leading union efforts to negotiate a new accord prior to this month’s general election.

The union has said it will seek above-inflation pay rises in any new deal to take account of the rising cost of living, recent economic and exchequer growth, and pay movements across the economy

Fórsa and other unions have again raised the plight of staff forced to retire at age 65. Since the State pension qualification age was increased to 66, they have to sign on for social welfare benefits worth less than the State pension, and declare themselves available for work.

Fórsa is among the supporters of a public forum on the future of the National Archives, which takes place in the Edmund Burke theatre in Dublin’s Trinity College at 6.30pm on Friday 27th March.

The open forum will draw attention to the threats posed to Ireland’s national archives, which were highlighted in a Fórsa report last year,

Tens of thousands of childcare educators and providers joined parents earlier this month to protest about the high cost of childcare and low pay in the sector. Over 60% of childcare educators in Ireland earn below the living wage, while parents pay some of the highest fees in Europe.

The average gender pay gap in Ireland has risen to 14.4%, according to the most recent estimates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The 2017 figure – based on the latest available data – compares to a significantly lower gap of below 12.6% during the recession.