The Workplace Relations Commission has requested that a Government-appointed group assist in the stalled public sector pay talks.
The negotiations were adjourned last night without agreement with unions claiming the process had reached a “significant impasse”.
An independent group, chaired by WRC Chair Kevin Foley, was appointed to construct the framework of the pay talks.
The body previously said it would be available to assist in the event of an impasse being reached.
In a statement today, the WRC said: “Having engaged in intensive talks for 10 days, under the auspices of the WRC, the commission is of the view that certain matters have reached an impasse and is requesting that the Government-appointed group consider those issues and put forward a means of resolution.
“All other matters under discussion shall remain with the WRC,” the commission said.
“As talks have yet to conclude, all discussions will continue to remain confidential to the parties,” it added.
Union leaders left the WRC shortly after 11pm last night.
Lead union negotiator and General Secretary of the Fórsa trade union Kevin Callinan spoke to reporters as he left the talks.
“We have reached an impasse,” Mr Callinan said.
‘Significant impasse’ in negotiations, says Callinan
“It doesn’t seem possible at this moment that it is going to be possible to reach an agreement that we could confidently put to our members in a ballot.
“Our next step is to meet with our affiliate unions on Monday morning where will brief them on the negotiations and decide on our next steps,” he added.
Earlier, Mr Callinan had told his fellow union leaders that if a draft agreement was not available at Monday’s meeting they would consider plans for a nationwide strike on Wednesday 11 November.
Mr Callinan said it would be a matter for the WRC if it wanted to involve the government appointed group.
“We’ll make ourselves available but right now we are at a pretty significant impasse,” he said.
“We would respect the WRC’s judgement but we need to be confident that any proposals would be likely to be accepted by members and we are a long way from that,” he added.
In a message to Fórsa members earlier yesterday, Mr Callinan said the Government had yet to put forward a credible offer and that it remained to be seen whether it would do so.
He described the talks as “lengthy, and at times heated”, adding that if the sides fail to reach an acceptable agreement by the weekend, it would leave unions with no alternative but to escalate industrial action.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform expressed disappointment that despite intensive negotiations over the last 10 days, the public service pay discussions have not yet delivered an agreed outcome.
Jack Chambers said that he recognised the efforts of all parties over recent weeks and thanked the WRC for its role in supporting the discussions.
He added the Government remains committed to agreeing a fair and credible pay deal for workers across the public service that is also affordable and sustainable for the country.
“The WRC have announced today that they have requested that the government appointed group consider those issues and put forward a means of resolution.
“As talks have yet to conclude, all discussions will continue to remain confidential to the parties.
“As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further,” he said.
