‘Pay hikes must be tied to NDP delivery’

BENCHMARKING pay hikes to civil servants should be linked to the timely delivery of the National Development Plan (NDP), the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland national conference will be told today.

The Chief Executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) John Dunne is expected to demand that public sector benchmarking pay awards should be conditional on the punctual completion of the NDP.

Addressing CCI’s annual conference Mr Dunne will say: “The public sector is strong on explaining why the NDP hasn’t been delivered on time, but what we need is action on delivery.”

In a tough address Mr Dunne will hit home the message from the private sector that the delays in the realisation of the plan are unacceptable and perhaps the public sector would implement the plan with more urgency if its pay-rise was linked to the delivery of the NDP.

“The private sector sees no value in paying wage increases on the scale of those awarded to the public sector under benchmarking without getting something in return,” he is expected to say.

CCI’s Annual Conference, “The New Reality for Local Economic Development - Changes and Challenges,” opens in Galway today.

It will explore strategies that can by deployed by local communities looking to attract foreign investment and by indigenous companies looking to survive and thrive.