The government stands fully behind the Lansdowne Road Agreement according to the Public Expenditure Minister.

Paschal Donohoe says they are willing to talk to unions demanding a pay increase, but will stick to the terms of the deal.

SIPTU plans to ballot 60,000 members on industrial action if there is no plan outlined for talks on a new pay deal by tomorrow.

Paschal Donohoe has denied they should have started talking with unions about a new deal a long time ago: “There’s no way we could have begun the discussions last year because at that point we would have been in year one of the Lansdowne Road agreement.

“We couldn’t, no government couuld be in an situation that it concludes negotiations on a public service wage agreement, and with the ink nearly dry on it, start negotiating the next one.

“It has the duration up to 2018 and we are committed to honouring that agreement.”