As we approach 7.30pm, the remaining public sector workers out on picket lines will likely be calling it a day and heading home after a day of striking. 

With that, we’re going to leave this liveblog here for the moment. Thanks so much for staying with our coverage throughout the day. 

We’ll bring you any developing news on the strike on our website. 

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has told RTÉ’s Six One News that the government is “absolutely” happy for pay to be the first thing discussed in any negotiations with public sector unions. 

He said he is “hopeful” that the coalition and the unions can find a way forward “very shortly”.

Read the full article here.

Two year-old Jack showed his support for his mam and other public sector workers at St Dominic’s NS in Tallaght earlier today. 

Tara Duffy Tara Duffy

The HSE has said hospitals “remain very busy today, despite widespread curtailment of health and social care services, due to public sector work stoppages”.

“Engagements with unions during the day have been positive and helped us to make sure that emergency and critical care services are being prioritised,” a spokesperson for the health service said. 

They said that rescheduling of impacted appointments and procedures will be prioritised and rescheduled “as soon as possible”.

“We ask patients to bear with us as there may be further delays until there is greater certainty regarding future industrial action.”

Mairead Maguire / The Journal Mairead Maguire / The Journal / The Journal

There are a number of overflowing bins on Dublin’s Grafton Street this evening amid the 24-hour strike. 

Meanwhile, this is how South Anne Street is looking.

Mairead Maguire / The Journal Mairead Maguire / The Journal / The Journal

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is going to be on RTÉ’s Six One News in the next while.  

We’ll bring you everything he has to say about today’s public sector strike. 

Former president Mary Robinson dropped by a picket line outside the Royal Hospital Donnybrook earlier today – and she even brought chocolate for the striking workers.

Mná na hÉireann!💚 Happy to support my @RoyalDonnybrook colleagues (mostly women) who deliver the services we ALL depend on today #Strike Mary Robinson herself called by with chocolate!🍫🩷 https://t.co/gAqEr5ar5Z

— lilycogan (@lilycogan) October 14, 2026

Litter and rubbish has been building up throughout the day in Dublin city centre amid the public sector strike.

A bin on Dublin's South Circular Road this afternoon. Laura Byrne / The Journal Laura Byrne / The Journal / The Journal

Anthony, a caretaker with Dublin City Council’s housing section who was on strike today, told The Journal that the capital’s streets would begin looking very dirty without the council’s municipal workers taking care of it.

Read the full article here. 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has shared a video on social media of herself at several picket lines in Dublin with nurses, midwives and teachers.

“Workers and families are struggling with the cost of living,” she wrote, adding that the government “must listen and deliver a fair pay agreement”.

Our nurses, midwives, múinteoirí and public servants keep our country running. They deserve fair pay, decent working conditions and respect for the work they do. Workers and families are struggling with the cost of living, the Government must listen and deliver a fair pay agreement. Full solidarity with every worker taking action today. Up the workers! ✊

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) October 14, 2026

Meanwhile, members from the Fórsa trade union can be seen below striking outside the Dublin City Council offices on Wood Quay.

Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

A reader who was out on an official picket with her colleagues in Drumcondra today has sent us some photos of their latest (very cute) recruit. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee. Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said the government has “heard what people are saying” and wants to “sit around the table and discuss all of the issues”.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1′s Drivetime programme in the last few minutes, McEntee said understands that people are struggling and that “there’s a real cost of living crisis going on”. 

“I’ve spoken to people on the picket line myself today, and what’s very clear is that they want the substantive discussions to start and they want engagement,” she said.

“But we did have engagement that started in June. There was an option on the table, as there still is now, for no preconditions to start.

“If you look at any other public sector pay agreement over the years, it’s never started with any one issue with something agreed, and then we move on to the next. There’s always an agreement that we come to the table without any preconditions.”

Referring to public expenditure minister Jack Chamber’s remarks on Prime Time on Tuesday night, McEntee said he is “very open” to pay being the first discussion in any negotiations. 

When asked why he didn’t say this back in June, the Fine Gael TD said that for any public sector pay agreement, “it has always been the case that there is an understanding on both sides, the unions and the minister of the day, that you start the discussions and the engagement without any preconditions”. 

She said that her understanding is that from June when the discussions began, there have been no preconditions on the table, meaning that pay “and any other matter that needs to be discussed” were on the table “and could be discussed in any which way order”.

She added:

We want to pay people more. We want an agreement on these talks.

“The sooner people can get around the table, the sooner substantive talks can be reached and agreed, the quicker people can see that impacted in their pay packets. That’s the most important thing here.”

Teachers and Special Needs Assistants on the picket line at the Educate Together School in Carrigaline, Co Cork. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Forsa members outside the Council Offices on Wood Quay in Dublin. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Forsa members outside Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Workers striking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Seán Canney. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney has said that priority must now be to get a process of negotiations underway between the government and the unions. 

In a statement this afternoon, the Independent TD for Galway East said he fully recognises “the pressures facing public servants and workers”.

“We remain open to negotiations, and I welcome the willingness expressed by trade union representatives to engage in a process aimed at resolving the outstanding issues,” he said. 

“With goodwill on all sides, I believe we can move towards a resolution of the outstanding issues and a new public service pay agreement.”

Canney added that the government “will spare no effort to get talks going” and work towards establishing a process of dialogue that can lead to a resolution of the current impasse. 

Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

There was also a picket near the entrance to the RDS – where the government was hosting an International AI Summit as part of Ireland’s EU presidency.

Horns blared as cars showed their support for a group of workers picketing outside the City of Dublin Education and Training Board. 

Slightly further up the road, and right next to the RDS Merrion Road entrance, an anti AI/data centres protest was being held. People Before Profit joined the protest, which was called ‘Energy Vampires and Job Robbers Not Welcome’.

Inside the summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believes “the foundations are there” for an agreement between government and public sector unions to avoid another day of strike action.

Asked whether it was embarrassing that the strike action was taking place as the government hosted the AI summit, Martin said that those attending know Ireland is a democracy.

“No, I mean that’s life. I think most people who come to this summit have a lot of experience of life, so it’s not a bad look in that sense. I mean, we have a democracy. We have very fundamental freedoms and going on strike as one of those.”

A picket in front of the International Protection Office on Mount Street. Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

A large group of workers from the International Protection Office were striking on Mount Street.

Workers from adjacent government sectors also joined the picket, which a worker said had around 160 people at one point today.

Passing by cars could be heard beeping in support of the striking workers, and the Fórsa members said there had been a positive reaction from the public.

As in other places across the country, workers took shifts on the picket.

Trade union Unite’s Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald has said that today’s strike demonstrates “that workers have real power and are not prepared to accept more of the same”. 

“The government’s arrogant failure since June to meaningfully engage moved the negotiating table to the picket line,” Fitzgerald said. 

She called on the government to “jettison its business-as-usual approach to industrial relations” and come to the negotiating table “with a real cost-of-living proposal that will not only make up the ground already lost but protect living standards going forward”. 

The softening in the government’s tone since last night was not due to a sudden conversion – it was due to a belated realisation of the power wielded by organised public sector workers.

Meanwhile, our political correspondent Jane Matthews has been speaking to Social Democrats TDs Jen Cummins and Rory Hearne, who joined striking workers outside the picket at Leinster House. 

Cummins told her that there has been “huge support” for the public sector workers, which has put more pressure on the government to enter into negotiations ahead of next Wednesday’s planned strike. 

Hearne said he has spoken to nurses, teachers and other public sector workers at pickets today, adding that younger public servants who are trying to buy a house and keep up with their rent are particularly struggling.

“They really feel that the government does not understand the situation and what a struggle it is to try and cover the basics,” he said. 

SocDems TDs Jennifer Cummins & Rory Hearne outside Leinster House this afternoon supporting the public sector strike. “People are struggling…Particularly younger teacher….who are trying to buy a house…They really feel that the government does not understand,” Hearne says. https://t.co/EUU45Gjf25

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

Met Éireann staff pictured in Galsnevin today. Andrew Walsh / The Journal Andrew Walsh / The Journal / The Journal

Our reporter Andrew Walsh spoke to striking Met Éireann workers outside their office in Glasnevin this morning. 

Eoghan Harney, a representative of the meteorologists’ branch, told him that workers were disappointed to be taking industrial action.

“We’d much prefer to be not here. But look, the government hasn’t made a move, so this is what it’s come to,” Harney said.

Read the full article here. 

Pickets in Dublin city centre have been cheered on by beeping cars and buses throughout the day.

In the Liberties, Dublin City Council workers have been picketing outside their offices.

Dublin City Council workers on strike

Freelance court journalist Tom Tuite reports that the usually bustling Criminal Courts of Justice on Dublin’s Parkgate Street is at a standstill as staff picket, bringing scheduled legal proceedings to a complete halt.

With workers standing firm on the steps, the doors to the country’s main criminal court complex, which houses the Circuit Court, District Court, and Central Criminal Court, remained effectively closed.

Court sittings around the country were cancelled except for emergency domestic violence and childcare applications to protect victims of domestic violence and children requiring emergency care. 

Pasted directly onto the CCJ’s glass doors behind the picketing staff was an official “Notice of Adjournment of Court” sign.

The document notified defendants and members of the public who turned up expecting their cases to be heard that the court clerk had formally adjourned all sittings by order of a District Court judge.

The page listed bulk adjournments that pushed cases back into November and December, along with instructions that the court would list new station bail cases originally scheduled for Wednesday on Thursday instead.

It concluded with a formal order requiring all persons summoned or bound by recognisance to attend on the specified new dates without further notice.

Court staff picketing outside the Criminal Courts of Justice Tom Tuite Tom Tuite

At the end of the day, what everyone wants to know is: how is all this going to get sorted out?

Reporter Emma Hickey spoke to industrial relations veteran Kieran Mulvey to try to figure out exactly that.

Kieran Mulvey mediated the 2010 Croke Park and 2013 Haddington Road public service agreements.

Mulvey said it’s in both sides’ interests to sit down and negotiate a deal.

With a second potential strike looming, he said: “The parties have literally a number of days to get around the table and see can this be ironed out.”

Read the full article here.

Kieran Mulvey pictured in 2019, arriving to Leinster House. PA PA

The litter photos keep rolling in – here are a couple of overflowing bins outside the National Children’s Hospital and on South Circular Road.

We’re about halfway through the work day. Strikers have been picketing for hours and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the government is “open to negotiations” on a new pay deal.

How did we get to this point in the first place?

Assistant news editor Stephen McDermott has written an analysis on how the dispute escalated to a national strike – the first of its kind since 2009.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins compared today’s protest with the fuel protest and criticised the government for not engaging sooner on either.

Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House, he said there may be more fuel protests from hauliers and farmers following today’s public sector strike.

“They’re watching this protest today. I’ve been talking to them,” Collins said.

“They had a meeting in Moate, I was there at the meeting pleading with them to try and negotiate, to try and see can we bring the government with us. The budget last week proved that that’s not possible, so it’s quite possible there could be further protest,” he added.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins says this is the second time in less than 12 months that the country has ground to a halt. “These people have no choice, at the end of the week there is little or nothing left to pay the bills that need to be paid,” he says. https://t.co/6EIiPRerZT

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

More workers at public third level colleges, including Dublin City University and Maynooth University, are out on the picket lines this afternoon.

🪧 Picket line going strong at @MaynoothUni today. #PublicServicePay #IFUT #HigherEducation https://t.co/yyOPjTu0Oj

— IFUT (@ifut) October 14, 2026

Spirits are high at the @DCU picket today. Solidarity ✊💙🩵 #IFUT #PublicSectorPay #HigherEducation https://t.co/FZKA86oq0X

— IFUT (@ifut) October 14, 2026

Mary Lou McDonald has said that public sector workers were “left with no choice but to take to the picket lines”.

“People are aghast at the level of incompetence and the level of arrogance,” the Sinn Féin leader said of the government in relation to the strikes.

“People are aghast at the level of incompetence and the level of arrogance,” Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says of the government in relation to today’s strikes. She says today we are seeing the government at its worst. https://t.co/u8Hx1j4GwR

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

The strikes have officially gone international – a number of Fórsa union members are striking at the Irish embassy in Brussels, Belgium today.

The group is composed of staff working for the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as staff at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU.

The embassy is currently serving a central role in managing Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Staff pictured outside the Irish embassy in Brussels. Fórsa Fórsa

Our reporter Hannah Power spoke to more striking staff at the Mater hospital.

Kacey Gleeson, who works at the catering department at the Mater, said that “we are bottom of the barrel in the hospital industry and it’s just so wrong”.

A single parent, Gleeson said “we need fair pay with the cost of living and everything going up”.

Union members pictured outside the Mater hospital in Dublin. Leah Farrell / Rolling News Leah Farrell / Rolling News / Rolling News

Meanwhile, Sinead McCarville has worked in housekeeping for over 22 years. She remarked that today’s action was “the biggest stand-off I’ve ever seen”.

“We have to stand by our rights, we are overworked and we need more pay rates”.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald spoke to reporters outside Leinster House in the last few minutes, where she took aim at the government’s handling of the strikes.

“I don’t know what game they’re playing. I can only say that their incompetence is stunning. I always think that I’ve seen their worst until I see some more.”

“I don't know what game they're playing. I can only say that their incompetence is stunning. I always think that I've seen their worst until I see some more.” SF leader Mary Lou McDonald says today’s strike was avoidable as she calls for the Govt to engage further with unions. https://t.co/TIJs4AvOar

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

On Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s agenda this morning was an International AI Summit being held in the RDS, where he gave the opening address.

Afterwards, he spoke to media, where the strikes were at the top of everyone’s mind.

He said he is “focused on how we can bring this to a conclusion” by negotiating a new public sector pay agreement.

“Government is open for negotiations. We want negotiations. We want dialogue,” he said.

He wouldn’t comment specifically about the shape those talks might take, but said that he welcomed the “tone and disposition” of union leaders this morning and said that “with good will on all sides, I think we can move this into a better space in terms of getting a resolution”.

Asked whether he thinks another strike day planned for next week is avoidable, Martin said he hopes it is.

“I would hope so yes, but I mean, that’s a matter in the first instance for the trade union movement,” he said. “We will spare no effort to get talks going and we will continue to try and open up a process of dialogue here.”

Read more here.

Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

At the Botanic Gardens, a few teachers and a class of teenagers from Germany, unaware of the strikes, turned up at the gates and had to be turned away, but striking staff said the teachers were “very understanding”, Andrew Walsh reports.

Lots of tourists have been turned away but “only one negative comment” so far, botanist Darren Reidy said.

Forsa and Siptu members are picketing outside the gardens for the day.

“We just tell people that there’s a national public sector strike, and that all public sector bodies are on strike today, and that it’s because of the government’s failure to come to the table to talk, and so that’s all we’re asking for at the minute, is just reasonable response from the state,” Reidy said.

Workers outside the National Botanic Gardens Andrew Walsh / The Journal Andrew Walsh / The Journal / The Journal

Like Callinan, Labour leader Ivana Bacik is appealing to the Taoiseach to intervene, saying that no one wants to see another day of strikes happening next week.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik says there was a “glimmer of hope” from Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers last night. She says it is “incomprehensible” that government left it so late in the day to engage on pay. https://t.co/qpcLaHc7t3

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

Our politics correspondent Jane Matthews has been chatting with strikers outside Government Buildings.

Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to intervene.

The Taoiseach himself is due to speak to media elsewhere in Dublin shortly – we’ll have more on that for you as it happens.

Forsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan speaks to @thejournal_ie about today’s strike. He says it is time the Taoiseach intervenes but if Jack Chambers is “sincere” in latest comments it could pave the way for a breakthrough. https://t.co/zZRYZXb0Pf

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

Our reporter Hannah Power is outside the Mater hospital, where several union representatives have been speaking to media.

Siptu General Secretary Adrian Kane said “there is a great atmosphere here and a lot of support from the public as well”.

He maintained there needs to be a “credible framework”  for talks to take place.

“I was on Prime Time with Jack Chambers last night and the question was repeatedly put to him if he would be prepared to talk about pay up front,” Kane told The Journal. “Eventually he acquiesced. I think that’s a positive development.

“It is better late than never,” he said. 

Kane said that workers remained the priority. “The worst thing we could do is enter into something we don’t believe in”.

The picket outside the Mater hospital Hannah Power / The Journal Hannah Power / The Journal / The Journal

In Glasnevin, Met Éireann staff have formed a picket outside HQ.

There are some disruptions to Met Éireann updating its website and app, but it’s still continuing essential weather forecasting services.

Plenty of support from passing motorists for striking staff outside Met Éireann in Glasnevin. Staff here said rising rents are making it increasingly difficult to work in Dublin. Essential weather forecasting services are continuing during today's strike. @thejournal_ie https://t.co/n5I2KMG8H2

— Andrew Walsh (@AndyBreathnach) October 14, 2026

Our reporter Sophie Finn has the latest on the strikes outside Government Buildings on Merrion Street:

There was huge support for the large crowds of striking workers dispersed outside the different government departments. Cars honked and cyclists rang their bells or cheered as they passed by.

David, a worker outside of the Office of the Attorney General, said nobody had said anything negative and curious tourists were stopping to see what was going on.

The workers were in good spirits too. Music could be heard blasting from speakers and small kids waved union flags.

Workers striking outside the Department of the Attorney General Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

Karen, from the Department of An Taoiseach, said she and the other workers would strike for as long as they had to.

She said she didn’t think the industrial action would go this far, but insisted workers must “fight for what’s right”.

On Merrion Square West, a group of workers from The National Gallery of Ireland are also striking.

One worker, Wayne, said he didn’t particularly want to be striking today but said he had “no choice”.

“Bills are a new mortgage.” Wayne Sugg, union rep and museum attendant at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin on why staff are participating in today’s public sector strike. @thejournal_ie https://t.co/OLxP1kQuPj

— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 14, 2026

Wayne wasn’t surprised the industrial action had reached this point, adding that he thinks the government “has their head in the sand”.

“It’s all rosy up there in the ivory towers, but it’s not like for us ordinary citizens,” he added.

Elsewhere, it was business as usual as vans delivered supplies to restaurants and hotels – although there was noticeably less traffic on the roads.

Ireland hasn’t seen a strike of this scale since 2009′s one-day pre-budget strike during the financial crash.

Pickets are prevalent everywhere you turn today. Here are some photos from Phibsborough fire station and Trinity’s nursing and midwifery building on D’Olier Street this morning. 

Lots of cars and buses passing the fire station were beeping in solidarity, with one ambulance putting on its siren to show support.

Kate Henshaw / The Journal Kate Henshaw / The Journal / The Journal

Live from the streets of Dublin, we have more litter photos for you.

Isn’t Dublin always a dirty ol’ town, you might ask? Well, the problem is there’s no one cleaning up the rubbish today as Dublin City Council workers strike.

David Mac Redmond / The Journal David Mac Redmond / The Journal / The Journal

David Mac Redmond / The Journal David Mac Redmond / The Journal / The Journal

David Mac Redmond / The Journal David Mac Redmond / The Journal / The Journal

Gardaí aren’t part of the strike, but civilian workers employed by An Garda Síochána are. The Journal reporter Andrew Walsh visited the picket at Garda Headquarters this morning:

There was a strong turnout and plenty of enthusiasm on the picket line outside Garda Headquarters in Dublin’s Phoenix Park this morning, as civil servants took part in today’s strike.

Josh Graves, a 31-year-old executive officer working in logistics for An Garda Síochána, told The Journal that staff were disappointed to have to take industrial action.

“None of us want to be here. We don’t want to cause the disruption that it’s causing the country today. But we’ve been pushed to a point where we feel like we need to be here,” Graves said.

A strong turnout at the picket line outside Garda HQ in Phoenix Park this morning, as civil servants take strike action. I spoke to Josh Graves and Fórsa's Jim Mitchell about why workers feel they've been left with no choice and the prospect of further strikes. @thejournal_ie https://t.co/mbXa0GMuqY

— Andrew Walsh (@AndyBreathnach) October 14, 2026

He added that he and his partner, both civil servants in their early 30s, were still living at home because they could not afford to buy a house.

“It’s a bit disheartening when we can’t live comfortably in this country that we’re contributing to,” he said.

Jim Mitchell, a Fórsa management representative for civil service members working in An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and Tailte Éireann, said there was no shortage of determination among those striking.

“There’s actually an enthusiasm. In other words, we’re going to get this done, and we want to get it done and finished,” Mitchell said.

Josh (left) and Jim (right) Andrew Walsh / The Journal Andrew Walsh / The Journal / The Journal

He said members were prepared to strike again next week if necessary, although they would prefer to reach an agreement.

Those protesting told The Journal that they were proud to be taking part in the strike today, as their lengthy picket line received plenty of honks from passing drivers.

Workers at public third level colleges like University College Cork and the University of Galway are out picketing this morning.

A strong picket at University College Cork this morning 💪 #Cork #IFUT #PublicServicePay https://t.co/8Ak1hh9lHs

— IFUT (@ifut) October 14, 2026

📣 Solidarity to our members at Galway University this morning on the picket line #PublicSectorPay #IFUT #HigherEducation https://t.co/JVotcANDJj

— IFUT (@ifut) October 14, 2026

I was going to write a post about what kind of weather strikers can expect today while they’re out on the pickets – but of course, Met Éireann is affected by the strike too.

“Due to industrial action, there will be disruptions to updates on met.ie on Wednesday 14th October,” its website says.

The latest update from Met Éireann website was at 10pm last night.

We do know from the forecasting it did yesterday that today is expected to be windy and mostly dry to start off, with highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees.

Later in the afternoon and evening, “persistent and heavy rain” is expected to move into the west and northwest of the country.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, will be a windy day with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, reaching strong to gale force in western and northwestern coastal parts🌬️ While some bright or sunny spells are likely to begin further to the east, it'll become cloudy generally🌥️ https://t.co/cFZpaBHtxE

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 13, 2026

Our reporter Sophie has the latest on the impact of the strike on public transport.

Public transport services across the Transport For Ireland network, which includes buses, Dart, Luas and rail, are not participating in the strike and are expected to operate as normal.

However, the National Bus and Railworkers’ Union (NBRU) issued a notice to members working in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann advising them that in the spirit of solidarity, they should not cross a picket line.

The union said that, while travelling on an official route, Dublin Bus services may encounter picket lines at hospitals, ports or colleges, or other places affected by the industrial action.

There is no industrial action at bus garages, and the NBRU said striking unions have not yet posted pickets across vehicular entrances at hospitals, ports or colleges.

At schools, hospitals and other public buildings around the countries, striking workers are turning out to picket and have their voices heard.

One of the most visible pickets is at St James’ Hospital in Dublin, where countless Luas passengers will pass by today.

Last night, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said that pay could be the starting point for negotiations on a new deal between the government and unions.

What’s the response from unions?

Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan has said that he welcomes the minister’s comments and that he feels it shows that today’s strike was necessary – but also that it made him wonder whether the strike could have been avoided if the minister had engaged with unions sooner.

Callinan was speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland not long after Minister for Higher Education James Lawless was setting out the government’s stall on the same programme.

Calinan said that Chambers’ words “give some ground for optimism” but that unions are “dealing with a very difficult situation where there has been a fundamental breach of trust” and a “loss of confidence in the industrial relations system”.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan pictured at a press conference in September. Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

At Dublin City Council’s North City Operations Depot in Ballymun, workers were out on strike from midnight.

And we’re off! Picket line solid at DCC North City Operations Depot in Ballymun. Striking since midnight. 🕛 #UnionStrike https://t.co/3sC7IfcwP9

— SIPTU (@SIPTU) October 14, 2026

So far, the government has invited unions to talks, but unions have reject the offer because, they say, there weren’t new proposals on the table to address their concerns.

On Morning Ireland, Lawless was asked about unions seeking a commitment from the government that the issue of pay will be dealt with upfront in any negotiations.

“In any set of negotiations, two sides go in. A number of issues are traversed. Progress is made on some, and then you move on to others, and then eventually you agree a final deal,” Lawless said.

“If the unions want it to be the first item on the agenda, that’s fine. There’s no issue with that whatsoever. However, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, is a simple principle of negotiation.”

He added that the government “ultimately” has to “be the guardians of the public purse” and “taxpayers’ money”.

Various government members will be out today putting forward their position on the strike, and one of the first to hit the airwaves is Minister for Higher Education James Lawless.

Lawless has said the action is “regrettable” but that he “respects” the right of workers to vote to strike.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, he said a second day of strike action should be avoided.

“Let’s try to avoid all that. Let’s get around the table,” he said.

Minister for Higher Education James Lawless Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

The strike started early for some workers. At Dublin Port, workers engaged in a midnight picket.

Thom McDermott / Fórsa Thom McDermott / Fórsa / Fórsa

Some public sector workers aren’t striking because their union is not part of the industrial action, and in some cases, arrangements are in place to protect essential services. Here’s a quick look at some of those (and there’s more detail here).

• Members of the main union representing consultants, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, will not be striking
• Emergency departments and other critical, time-sensitive healthcare services, such as urgent cancer treatment and dialysis, will continue. Ambulance services will continue with a curtailed service
• GPs, GP out-of-hours and pharmacists remain available
• Siptu has said fire brigades will operate with reduced service on Wednesday.
• Prison officers will be mounting pickets outside individual prisons but essential prison operations will continue
• Gardaí are not striking, though civilians employed by An Garda Síochána will picket outside Garda Headquarters
• Fórsa members who work for Revenue, the Department of Agriculture and the HSE who work at Dublin Port will be picketing outside the port, but a spokesperson for the port said it “remains fully operational and contingency arrangements are in place to manage traffic and minimise disruption”
• The Department of Social Protection said social welfare payments would not be affected by the strike
• An Post workers are not part of the strike but the Communication Workers’ Union, which represents workers in the tech, postal and telecommunications sector, has advised members not to cross picket lines

A significant number of job roles are taking part in the strike today. We have the full breakdown for you here.

Here’s a quick summary of some of the key roles striking:

• Administrative staff across government departments and state agencies
• Local authority workers
• Primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and SNAs
• College lecturers
• Consultants and public and community health doctors represented by the Irish Medical Organisation
• Nurses and midwives in the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation
• Mental health and intellectual disability nurses in the Psychiatric Nurses Association
• National Ambulance Service workers in Siptu
• Dentists working in the HSE in the Irish Dental Association

File photo from a strike by care and community sector workers in 2022. Brian Lawless / PA/Alamy Brian Lawless / PA/Alamy / PA/Alamy

As you can probably guess, the reason for the strike ultimately comes down to pay.

Specifically, it relates to the government and unions failing to reach an agreement on a new public sector pay deal since the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 expired in June.

Budget 2027 allocated funding of €1.2 billion for a new agreement.

However, unions are looking for a new pay deal that will increase pay at a rate that beats inflation.

Inflation is currently running at 4.1% and union sources have told The Journal that although different unions have different expectations, the lowest they will accept is a 5% increase. They described the budget offering as an “insult”.

There was speculation in recent days about whether the planned strike would go ahead or not, but D-Day has arrived and the strike is very much on.

On her way into the office, my colleague Sophie noticed that there was more litter on South Great George’s Street in Dublin than usual.

Dublin City Council staff have been striking since midnight, and the council warned yesterday that litter and waste are “likely to build up across the city”.

Litter on South Great George's Street before 7am this morning. Sophie Finn / The Journal Sophie Finn / The Journal / The Journal

GOOD MORNING from The Journal.

Traffic was lighter than usual heading in to Dublin city centre this morning.

Around the country, thousands of public sector workers are striking today, preparing to head to pickets to voice their discontent at the absence of a new public sector pay deal since the previous one expired earlier this year.

We’ll have all the updates you need throughout the day.