The Labour Court recommended that Dublin City Council / Dublin Fire Brigade could not unilaterally introduce additional employment-cost savings for 2011 after agreeing €3.5 million in savings with Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union. The Council had cited a €1.7 million budget overrun, while the unions said the 2011 savings had already been settled. The recommendation, signed on 9 September 2011, said negotiations on 2012 savings should begin as soon as practicable, with both sides free to raise relevant issues.