Fórsa general secretary and vice-president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Kevin Callinan, has said the new Government is facing a unique set of challenges following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

He said the new administration would ultimately be more successful in addressing these challenges by engaging in a new programme of social dialogue, bringing together unions and employers to develop shared solutions to the economic and social problems caused, or intensified, by the crisis.

Among the most immediate challenge, he said, is the continuing high rate of temporary unemployment: “Ireland currently ranks ninth among EU member states in terms of the number of workers temporarily unemployed, which currently stands at just over 22 per cent.

“However, the unemployment rate is just over 45 per cent for those aged up to 24, revealing the disproportionate effect of the crisis on younger people.

"In that context, the new government must consider the need for jobs investment, in addition to workers’ rights, the living wage and collective bargaining. Issues upon which the new Programme for Government is largely silent.”

He said the enormity of the crisis in Irish aviation also required urgent attention, while the European Commission has recommended the need for healthcare reform and specific measures to address unemployment and to prepare the workforce for climate, energy and circular economy transition.

Kevin said there were opportunities for Ireland respond positively to these challenges as the EU appears to be adopting a more social democratic stance in its response to post-Covid economic recovery: “While there’s still resistance from some European partners on the management and distribution of the proposed €750bn recovery fund, the EU does appear to have learned the lessons of an austerity-led approach to the last crisis.

“Ireland should be well placed to benefit from a more enlightened approach by the EU, particularly as the threat of a no-deal Brexit intensifies in the latter half of the year. Our response to all of these issues will be more successful if they are driven by a social dialogue process,” he said.

The new Programme for Government has committed to establishing a unit in the Department of Taoiseach to coordinate social dialogue and “create new models of sectoral engagement”.

Public service agreement

Kevin also highlighted the pressing need for a successor to the current PSSA agreement, and wrote this week to the new Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, on behalf of the ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC), seeking a discussion about public service pay and conditions.

The PSSA is due to expire at the end of the year. Kevin advised the minister that, in normal circumstances, the government and the PSC would have discussed, and probably finalised, proposals for a successor agreement before now. The minister has acknowledged that this is one of his priorities in his new role.

Kevin commented: “The Covid-19 crisis served to illustrate the crucial role of public services in responding to the multiple challenges we faced. In health, social protection, transport, local authorities and other services, workers were called upon to work in different ways to ensure a cohesive response to protect public health, and to ensure the seamless delivery of the services we all rely upon.

“The new Government needs to strengthen our public services during its term, and ensure that they are robust in the face of future challenges,” he said.

While there had been some recent media speculation about the final payment due under the terms of the PSSA in October, the new minister confirmed on Tuesday that the Government will fulfil its obligations under the terms of the agreement.