McDowell to push ahead with prison overtime plan
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, says he will push ahead with contingency plans to cut overtime bills in the prison service, despite prison officers rejecting the latest offer.
The Prison Officers Association voted by 99% against the plans in a ballot.
Minister McDowell says alternative plans are at an advanced stage of preparation and will be fine-tuned over the coming days.
He says the funding is not and will not be available to continue with annual overtime bills of €64m.
