The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (Oct. 8) that the Irish government has "a critical and constructive role to play" in the resolution of the current difficulties affecting the devolved Stormont administration in Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to the key fiscal issues at the heart of the dispute.
This follows from a meeting between Congress and Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade. The Congress delegation comprised General Secretary Patricia King, Assistant General Secretary Peter Bunting (head of Congress Northern Ireland), vice President Kevin Callinan and Jimmy Kelly (Unite).
Speaking in the wake of the October 7 meeting, Congress Assistant General Secretary Peter Bunting said: "We met with Minister Flanagan to impress upon him – and by extension the Irish government – that he and they have a very constructive, positive and critical role to play in the resolution of the difficulties besetting the Stormont administration.
"We particularly stressed the importance of the Irish government using its influence to ensure that a fiscal stimulus package was introduced, as part of the overall resolution.
'the engagement with the Minister for Foreign Affairs was positive and productive and we would now urge that they bring their influence to bear," Mr Bunting concluded.
