JUNIOR MINISTER BRIAN Hayes has said that people “shouldn’t be fooled” by some union leaders, as a number of unions chose to vote No to Croke Park 2.

Speaking to Radio EP’s Karen Coleman, Hayes said that “people shouldn’t be fooled by some union leaders who are pretending there is a simple cut across the board if you vote no. That is not necessarily the case”.

His comments came as SIPTU voted No to the Croke Park extension deal, a move which could throw the deal in doubt. IMPACT members voted to accept the deal, as did the Public Service Executive Union, while Unite announced earlier today that a majority of its members had voted to reject it.

The Prison Officers’ Association said its members had approved the deal. INTO is expected to release the results of its ballot later today.

Ten unions have voted against the deal, while five have accepted it.

Hayes told Radio EP:

We have given out a clear, decisive view on the part of both parties in Government that we will legislate for this and we will legislate in a means which makes public sector pay and pensions sustainable in the long run.

At the moment they are not sustainable as long as we have this yawning gap between tax and expenditure where 38 per cent of everything we spend is on public sector pay and pensions.

He added:

I appreciate it’s difficult for unions but we offer certainty and fairness in our proposals. Those who are arguing for a No vote are arguing for the unknown.

To listen to the full clip from Radio EP, click here.

Read: SIPTU votes No to Croke Park, throwing deal into doubt>