Discussions on a new conciliation and arbitration scheme have been ongoing in earnest since October 2023. Since then, significant progress has been made and broad agreement has been reached on four key elements of a newly re-modelled scheme. However, the staff side, which represents union members, feels strongly that a renewed sense of urgency is now needed.

In late 2024 it was agreed that an officer of the WRC would be invited to independently chair the General Council, a move which Fórsa felt represented significant progress at the time. However, no invitation has yet been issued. Describing the need to move ahead with this, head of Fórsa’s civil service division Éamonn Donnelly said: “For the staff side it’s clear that the independent chair should be appointed now, rather than waiting any longer. This would demonstrate that the official side are committed to the new scheme.”

While agreement has also been reached between the staff side and the official side on the need to re-design the civil service grievance procedure, a number of key elements remain under discussion. The staff side have argued that the current system of statements and counter statements should be abolished, as they result in inordinate delays. Clear timelines for hearings are needed, and any dispute resolution process should mirror the same principles which govern the state’s industrial relations processes. There must be a route for unresolved grievances to be adjudicated on independently.

Underlining the need for urgency, Éamonn said: “We need to speed things up now on this long running issue. We would like the new scheme to launch in the autumn 2025. Civil servants have been dealing with an antiquated industrial relations system for long enough. We have broad agreement on the principles so it’s time to get a move on and finalise agreement."

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