Irish Taoiseach urges public-sector unions to sit down for talks before strike

Facing the prospect of a mass strike by about 300,000 public-sector workers, Taoiseach Micheál Martin made a last-minute call for unions to engage in direct talks. He noted that the public service workforce has expanded by roughly a quarter, now numbering 424,000, with significant increases in hospital consultants, nurses, midwives and special-needs assistants in schools. Opposition figures such as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald argued the government had four months to negotiate after the previous pay agreement expired, while Labour leader Ivana Bacik blamed the administration for allowing the deal to run out.

Social Democrat deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan accused Martin of portraying workers as eager for conflict. Martin countered that recent budget provisions and the continued growth of public-service staff create a foundation for wage negotiations, emphasizing that dialogue is the only solution.