Gormley admits pay rise unease

CRACKS in cabinet unity continued to appear last night as pressure mounted on the Taoiseach to bend to public anger over the massive pay awards accepted by the Government.

Environment Minister John Gormley admitted the huge increases had caused unease and could complicate national pay negotiations with unions.

Mr Gormley, who is in Bali to attend a conference on global warming, joined a growing number of ministers expressing concern at awards that see the Taoiseach’s salary go up by €38,000 to €310,000.

Pressure is growing on Bertie Ahern to make a gesture over the issue by at least deferring the payments.

“I think there’s some merit in what’s been said. I’m not there obviously so I don’t know the full context of what’s been said. Likewise, I hear there’s speculation the Taoiseach is supposed to be giving the matter some consideration.

“I think that there has been a certain amount of disquiet and in the context of social partnership it is difficult and it will be played up,” Mr Gormley told Newstalk.

The comments came as Health Minister Mary Harney said there was “merit” in former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald’s call for a moratorium on ministerial pay.

Dr FitzGerald said the increases, recommended by a government-appointed review, would destroy the Government’s moral authority.

Mr Gormley and fellow Green Minister Eamon Ryan have said they would give the €25,000 pay increases to political causes.