IMO may abandon Croke Park talks

The Irish Medical Organisation has said it has not ruled out walking out of the Croke Park talks if the outcome is unfair to its members.

Director of Industrial Relations Steve Tweed also described as "unfortunate to say the least" revelations in this morning's Irish Times that the Department of Health is seeking a pay increase for the incoming head of the HSE.

He is currently paid €198,000 per year.

Mr Tweed said it was his personal view that when his members were being asked to make significant sacrifices on their terms and conditions, a pay increase for someone earning that amount of money was a "slight" on all public servants, particularly health workers.

He voiced concern that under Government proposals, some doctors would face multiple simultaneous hits in their earnings.

They would be affected by additional working hours, a freeze on increments, a pay cut for higher paid grades and reductions in premium payments.

He said the IMO had told the Government an increase in the 39 hours gross per week that the majority of members worked was not acceptable.

He said that as things stood, it would be difficult to secure an agreement without movement from the Government, and said the issue of proportionality was crucial - both within sectors and across sectors.

Mr Tweed said the Government might be rowing back on its demand for five extra hours per week - but said that was only for some categories.

He said the IMO was not a member of the 24/7 Frontline Alliance but understood the sentiments behind it. He said most doctors had no choice but to work seven days a week.

Discussions focus on premium payments

Intensive talks are continuing at Croke Park today in a bid to negotiate a new public service pay agreement.

Today's discussions are focusing on the highly contentious issue of cutting premium payments for working evenings and weekends.

The Government is determined to cut €170m from these payments.

The current proposal would see the Sunday premium reduced from double time to time-and-a-half, with evening and Saturday premiums abolished.

However, frontline and emergency workers have pledged to resist any attempt to cut anything from their earnings.

The Government is expected to table proposals on increments later today.

It is expected that the talks could run overnight tomorrow into Monday in a bid to secure a deal.

Martin criticises cuts for young teachers and nurses

Elsewhere, Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has said that young nurses and teachers have been singled out to take salary cuts above and beyond anybody else.

He said this is creating a two-tier system in the workplace.

Mr Martin said that the big issue is that the cuts could undermine the professions and could reduce the capacity of the country to attract quality people into key professions.

Speaking in Sligo, Mr Martin said that in the context of the ongoing Croke Park talks, the opportunity should be used to rebalance what has occurred to date and to reduce the gap in what is now a two-tier system.

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