Union: Ahern restraint call not credible

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was last night branded a hypocrite after demanding wage restraint from unions while defending his own €38,000 pay rise.

ICTU said the call lacked all credibility after the cabinet had accepted massive salary increases last month.

At a meeting of the social partners ahead of February’s national wage agreement round, Mr Ahern and Tánaiste Brian Cowen urged caution on pay.