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Leo Varadkar Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Croke Park talks needed in 'six to eight months if not sooner' - Varadkar

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said that negotiations over the extension or renegotiation of the Croke Park Agreement will be needed within the “next six to eight months if not sooner”.

TRANSPORT MINISTER LEO Varadkar has said that negotiations over either extending the Croke Park Agreement or formulating a new deal on public sector pay and work practices will be needed in the next ‘six to eight months if not sooner’.

The agreement on public sector pay being maintained in return for changes  in working practices in the public service runs until 2014 but has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months amid calls for the issue of pay to be tackled by the government.

Last week Health Minister James Reilly indicated that the deal may need to re-examined because of the budget over run in the health service.

In today’s Sunday Independent, Education Minister Ruairí Quinn is quoted as saying “everything” should be on the table in any negotiations.

Varadkar told RTÉ’s This Week that the position of the government was that the current deal runs until 2014 and the government is bound by it.

But he said that negotiations on extending it or formulating a successor to the agreement will be needed to get underway within months.

“We can talk about renegotiating it before it expires,” he told RTÉ Radio.

“The current agreement stands and stands until 2014 but obviously if we’re going to negotiate an extension to the agreement that has to start before 2014.

“It probably has to start in the next six to eight months if not sooner.”

Varadkar said that it was important that any deal which succeeds the Croke Park Agreement is not the “same old Croke Park” and said we need to talk about “other things”.

He continued: “What is very important to me, is that if we do have an extension of Croke Park or a successor agreement to Croke Park that it’s not just the same old Croke Park deal.

“We need to be able to talk about other things and Ruairí Quinn said that everything should be on the table.”

Read: Reilly indicates renegotiation of Croke Park Agreement may be needed

Read: Everything you need to know about the Croke Park Agreement

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68 Comments
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    Mute Patrick Bateman
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:05 PM

    Netflix is the biz! Google “unblock” and use this to change the IP address whilst watching Netflix on your browser and you get the American version which has way more content. Simples!

    94
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    Mute Sean Baylon
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:22 PM

    Not only the U.S one.. Check out Sweden/Norway one as their licensing laws are completely different.. They have loads of gems on there.. UnblockUS is the shizzle..

    26
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    Mute RollyDodger
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:24 PM

    Good Man Patrick

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    Mute Mac Mock
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    Nov 13th 2013, 5:59 PM

    Xbmc

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    Mute stephen power
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    Nov 13th 2013, 6:03 PM

    Lads im finding it very hard to unblock.can someone explain in detail.

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    Mute RollyDodger
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    Nov 13th 2013, 7:31 PM

    I’m sure there is a step by step guide on the site stephen..

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    Mute Ronan Glynn
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:04 PM

    Their library is very limited. A friend summed it up best by saying “It’s full of stuff you wouldn’t even rent”

    39
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    Mute Brian Maverick O'Flaherty
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:14 PM

    I presume you are referring to the Irish / UK Library which is extremely limited. I typically use the US / Canada library. A lot of movies just coming to Sky On Demand are already in there. It could be better I admit but I still find a hidden gem to watch,

    39
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    Mute Colin Murray
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    Nov 13th 2013, 4:00 PM

    I find the UK/Ireland service better for movies and the US service better for TV shows..

    34
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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:54 PM

    One wonders about TV licence

    30
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    Mute Stephen Byrne
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    Nov 13th 2013, 4:54 PM

    It’ll be renamed a media licence, which every house will no doubt have to pay. TV or not

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    Mute C
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    Nov 13th 2013, 6:32 PM

    I expect you’re right Stephen. Question then is… what’s the justification behind the licence fee monies going to rte if most people are now using other media to access content produced elsewhere?

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    Mute Graham Murray
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:57 PM

    It won’t make any difference it’s still rubbish

    20
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    Mute stephen power
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    Nov 13th 2013, 6:06 PM

    Netflix the business.so much content for 7 € a month

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    Mute John Johnson Kcco
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:48 PM

    Pay for this or download for free?

    14
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    Mute Wayne Bruce
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:52 PM

    App is free, you pay for the service. And well worth it it’s is too! (especially if you have access to the US one using a VPN…)

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    Mute John Johnson Kcco
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:55 PM

    Yes I know you pay for the service and not for the app.

    Ill still unashamedly download everything I can for free.

    27
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    Mute Elizabeth Gibson
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:56 PM

    Is is possible to use a VPN on a smart tv? Can’t seem to change the ip address on it so wondering if VPN will work?

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    Mute Karl
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:58 PM

    You may be able to VPN your network through your router

    11
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:59 PM

    Nice attitude to life you have there John it’s people like you that ruin the music / movies industry. It’s the smaller labels that suffer in the end.

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    Mute John Johnson Kcco
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:05 PM

    They make enough money.

    31
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    Mute Wayne Bruce
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:12 PM

    Not sure what type of TV you have, but search for US Unblock. They have the details there.

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    Mute Brian Maverick O'Flaherty
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:18 PM

    Hi Elizabeth

    You can change your DNS settings in your TV setup to that of a IP redirecting service. There are several services out there [unblock-us.com being one I regularly use] .€3 euro a month and I can direct my internet traffic from all or some of my devices to a US IP. I can then gain access to the US content. of Netflix. I can also access some free US on demand services from tv stations.

    B

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    Mute Kevin shaw
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:32 PM

    Excuse me good chap, but I am computer illiterate. How do I get the u.s.a netflix. Explain in detail as I am quite high and uneducated sadly. Much appreciated

    27
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    Mute The Real Susie
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:38 PM

    Oh Brian I wish you were here to do that for me im no good with computers all I know what to do with them is turn them on and watch porn hehe :)

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    Mute Fran
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:41 PM

    John Murphy free things are always better and ruining the music industry I think you can thank the likes of Simon Cowell for that

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Nov 13th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Wayne, you must be on drugs!!!
    It’s godawful!!!!

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    Mute Wayne Bruce
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    Nov 13th 2013, 6:55 PM

    Nope, I love it. I don’t have satellite or cable and I very rarely watch the channels I do have because there is so much to watch on Netflix (especially with the US one)

    I have an Apple TV, and I love how I am able to start watching a program on that and then continue it on my iPhone/iPad when I travel if I don’t have time to finish it at home.

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    Mute Chris Mulhall
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    Nov 13th 2013, 7:10 PM

    Your need to change the DNS part of the network settings to those unblock-us needs. They have good how to guides. Details should be in your Smart TV User Guide or just google it.

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    Mute Ciaran De Ceol
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    Nov 14th 2013, 4:03 AM

    Most labels make hardly any money John.

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    Mute Elizabeth Gibson
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:40 PM

    Guys thanks for all your responses, I see if I can make any of them work, fingers crossed.

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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Nov 13th 2013, 5:49 PM

    Netflix have us by the balls. Torrent sites getting shut down daily. I lived in the great noughties to 2013! Just like free love of the 70′s… We are a major part of history, yet few realise/ appreciate it

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    Mute gumbridge
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    Nov 13th 2013, 3:31 PM

    Netflix sucks.
    Filmon.tv and alluc.org both are freepence.

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    Mute Shane Kearney
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    Nov 13th 2013, 5:20 PM

    Letmewatchthis is great as well

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    Mute Kevin Mullen
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:10 PM

    I went on the alluc.org site and the asked for my email address and credit card, is that safe

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    Mute Nick Skelly
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    Nov 13th 2013, 4:21 PM

    Try hola app on you smartphone or tab or tap it into your browser unlocks Netflix US

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