Labour Court recommends consultation over Kildare County Council's paid-parking contract

The Labour Court recommended that Kildare County Council and Services Industrial Professional Technical Union begin consultations over contracting out paid-parking services in Newbridge. The recommendation, dated 29 March 2004, followed the council's selection of a contractor before consulting the union. The council said it followed procurement procedures and had tried to engage the union. The union argued that it should have been consulted before the tender was awarded. The Court said full consultation was required when contracting out a service that had not previously been privatised.