Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness has directly challenged the Taoiseach in the Dáil over the Government’s failure to engage with school secretaries and caretakers – warning that strike action now looms as a result of continued inaction.
Speaking across the chamber, Deputy McGuinness demanded immediate intervention to prevent an indefinite strike in 2,000 schools, after the Fórsa trade union was left with “no option” due to the Government’s silence.
“These workers are the glue that holds our school system together. They do not want to go on strike – they want fairness,” he said. “Fórsa has made multiple offers to engage. Each one has been ignored. There has been zero effort from the Ministers responsible – and now this has landed on the Taoiseach’s desk.”
In response, the Taoiseach acknowledged that pensions remained an unresolved issue and admitted that the matter would “at some stage” need to be dealt with through a proper process. He said the Minister was “keeping the issue under review” and referred to a previous pay agreement as a “full and final settlement.”
Deputy McGuinness criticised the Taoiseach’s reply as complacent and disconnected from the urgency of the situation.
“Keeping it under review is not good enough. A strike has now been notified. Fórsa has given formal notice. If the Taoiseach and his Ministers fail to act, they are guaranteeing that strike to go ahead as schools start back after Summer.”
He reiterated Sinn Féin’s support for school staff seeking pay justice and pension parity, and called for “meaningful negotiation, not passive observation.”
“These workers deserve more than vague commitments and delayed processes. They deserve respect – and they deserve a Government that is willing to engage. The Taoiseach cannot wash his hands of this.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 