IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody has welcomed a commitment in the Government’s new public service reform plan for 2014-2016, which says resources saved through more efficient service delivery can be reinvested in improved public services. The next stage of the Government’s reform plan was published last week along with the second progress report on the Government’s previous plan, which outlined cost reductions, increased productivity and service improvements achieved since 2011.

IMPACT is to table a comprehensive list of the issues that provoked industrial action in the agriculture sector following a meeting with Department of Agriculture officials earlier this week. It is expected that this will form the basis of a further meeting next week, which could establish whether the department is prepared to engage on the issues.

IMPACT’s Boards and Voluntary Agencies branch is to seek commitments from Dublin local election candidates that they will protect local authority homelessness budgets from further cuts.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions last week told EU parliamentarians that the troika mission to Ireland repeatedly violated core European Union principles of solidarity and social dialogue. ICTU was giving evidence to an inquiry into how the troika conducted its missions in Ireland and elsewhere.