Taoiseach defends Cabinet’s 7.5% pay rise

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday strongly defended the Government decision to increase the salaries of ministers, which will see his own annual salary rise to over €253,000.

The Cabinet yesterday approved a report recommending pay rises for ministers and senior civil and public servants.

Significantly, it comes on the eve of a day-long meeting between the Government and social partners when the next phase of national pay agreements will be discussed.