Fórsa is in discussions on its demand for the introduction of a disciplinary code for civil servants on probation, following agreement on a revised standard disciplinary code.

But a “major setback” occurred at a recent meeting, when the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) sought to roll back on a draft code that has been under discussion.

The union’s national secretary Derek Mullen said DPER had instead proposed a very short reference to a policy within revised guidelines for staff on probation.

“This is not a policy in our view, and we will be insisting that the discussion returns to the draft code that had been under serious consideration,” he said.