No backbench revolt over U-turn on pay

A GOVERNMENT minister has expressed confidence that Fianna Fáil backbenchers won’t revolt over the U-turn on wage cuts for a select group of high-paid public servants.

Approximately 600 public servants earning salaries from €125,000 to €200,000 were due to take pay cuts of between 8% and 12% as a result of the December Budget.

But the Government subsequently decided to take into account the fact that these public servants had already seen a bonus scheme cancelled, which had contributed a sizeable amount to their salaries.