Fórsa has disputed Government estimates that restoring pre-crisis working time in the civil and public service could cost the Exchequer over €600 million a year. The union’s Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan said the figure was at least 50% higher than Government estimates when the additional time was introduced in 2013.

Significant numbers of civil service promotions are continuing all levels following the end of the recruitment moratorium.

Revenue management has agreed to ‘relaunch’ its employee engagement charter, which was originally published in 2017.

Civil service management should work with unions to ensure that the introduction of new technologies does not lead to job losses or poorer services, according to Fórsa.

The issue of working time remains “one constant” being raised by civil servants, despite the pay restoration of recent times, according to the chair of Fórsa’s Civil Service Division.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has organised a briefing on tipping practices in the hospitality sector, and the union group ONE Galway’s campaign for legal changes on the issue.

Fórsa and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have welcomed a new Government initiative to combat sexual harassment and violence.